Food Processing Machine Operator Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Food Processing Machine Operator

Best Schools to become a Food Processing Machine Operator in U.S. 2024

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL

In-State Tuition:$14,542
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,122
Admission Rate:45%
Graduation Rate:85%
Total Enrollment:56,916

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

In-State Tuition:$16,437
Out-of-State Tuition:$42,427
Admission Rate:88%
Graduation Rate:82%
Total Enrollment:50,023

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

In-State Tuition:$62,456
Out-of-State Tuition:$62,456
Admission Rate:7%
Graduation Rate:95%
Total Enrollment:25,898

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS

In-State Tuition:$9,489
Out-of-State Tuition:$25,560
Admission Rate:95%
Graduation Rate:69%
Total Enrollment:19,722

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

In-State Tuition:$14,118
Out-of-State Tuition:$38,062
Admission Rate:43%
Graduation Rate:85%
Total Enrollment:28,466

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA

In-State Tuition:$11,564
Out-of-State Tuition:$41,636
Admission Rate:37%
Graduation Rate:86%
Total Enrollment:39,679
Food Processing Machine Operator Job Description:
  • Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Food Processing Machine Operator

Job Duties for Food Processing Machine Operators

  • Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.

  • Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.

  • Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.

Technologies and Skills Used by Food Processing Machine Operators

Electronic mail software

  • Email software

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Food Processing Machine Operator

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Food Processing Machine Operator

FAQs About Becoming a Food Processing Machine Operator