Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.

Also Known As:

Bean Roaster Coffee Roaster Line Operator Machine Operator Oven Operator Oven Technician Roast Master Roaster Roaster Operator Roasterman

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

20,800

1% Change From 2024

Explore Food Batchmakers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Clear or dislodge blockages in bins, screens, or other equipment, using poles, brushes, or mallets.
Operate or tend equipment that roasts, bakes, dries, or cures food items such as cocoa and coffee beans, grains, nuts, and bakery products.
Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
Fill or remove product from trays, carts, hoppers, or equipment, using scoops, peels, or shovels, or by hand.
Test products for moisture content, using moisture meters.
Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
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.
Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
Take product samples during or after processing for laboratory analyses.
Open valves, gates, or chutes or use shovels to load or remove products from ovens or other equipment.
Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
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.
Read work orders to determine quantities and types of products to be baked, dried, or roasted.
Record production data, such as weight and amount of product processed, type of product, and time and temperature of processing.
Signal coworkers to synchronize flow of materials.
Smooth out products in bins, pans, trays, or conveyors, using rakes or shovels.
Clean equipment with steam, hot water, and hoses.
Install equipment, such as spray units, cutting blades, or screens, using hand tools.
Start conveyors to move roasted grain to cooling pans and agitate grain with rakes as blowers force air through perforated bottoms of pans.
Push racks or carts to transfer products to storage, cooling stations, or the next stage of processing.

Subject areas you may need to master.

History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.