A food machine operator works at a factory for manufacturing food or food-related products, and operates a piece of machinery there. The types of machines utilized in the food production process vary greatly, but some common types include drying machines, roasters as well as large-scale ovens. Food machine operators may be required to feed products into the machine, adjust its settings to ensure a smooth operation, or simply observe the process and make sure nothing goes wrong.
The job of a food machine operator is a low-skilled one and mostly requires knowledge that is attained in the process of employment – and thus, there are generally no special educational requirements for becoming a food machine operator. A good sense of personal hygiene is a strict requirement, and some companies require their employees to wear special uniforms to minimize the exposure of food to particles coming from their bodies. Additionally, some countries require employees in the food industry to undergo an educational course related to workplace hygiene before being allowed to work in such an environment.
A food machine operator earns rather low, considering the job is mostly manual labor. The annual salary varies between $14,000 – $36,000, and there are some small exceptions of companies that pay their machine operators substantially more, though these positions usually come with a lot more responsibilities attached, and the increased pay is fully justified in terms of effort. Companies with hazardous machinery may pay even more as well.