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Skilled Trades

Food Batchmakers

Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.

Median salary (BLS)

$42,290

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$32k – $59k

Job outlook

+7% (faster than average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Food Batchmakers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Food Batchmakers

    Entry / Junior

    $31,990

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Food Batchmakers

    Established

    $42,290

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Food Batchmakers

    Senior

    $50,615

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle.
  • •Clean and sterilize vats and factory processing areas.
  • •Set up, operate, and tend equipment that cooks, mixes, blends, or processes ingredients in the manufacturing of food products, according to formulas or recipes.
  • •Mix or blend ingredients, according to recipes, using a paddle or an agitator, or by controlling vats that heat and mix ingredients.
  • •Follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.

Fields of study

Any field

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