Food Batchmakers
Also called: Almond Paste Mixer, Back of House Team Member, Batch Blender, Batch Maker, Batch Mixer, Batcher, Batching Operator, Batter Mixer
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products.
What food batchmakers do
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Give directions to other workers who are assisting in the batchmaking process.
- Select and measure or weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales.
- Press switches and turn knobs to start, adjust, and regulate equipment, such as beaters, extruders, discharge pipes, and salt pumps.
- Determine mixing sequences, based on knowledge of temperature effects and of the solubility of specific ingredients.
- Observe and listen to equipment to detect possible malfunctions, such as leaks or plugging, and report malfunctions or undesirable tastes to supervisors.
- Observe gauges and thermometers to determine if the mixing chamber temperature is within specified limits, and turn valves to control the temperature.
- Turn valve controls to start equipment and to adjust operation to maintain product quality.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Food Batchmakers salary
The median annual wage for food batchmakers is $42,290 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $31,990 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $58,940. The mean annual wage is $43,750.
The mean hourly wage of $21.00 is 2.9× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Food Batchmakers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $42,290 → in 3 years $46,100 → in 5 years $48,800 → in 10 years $56,200 (10-year range $48,300–$65,300). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Food Batchmakers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Food Batchmakers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Food Batchmakers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Food Batchmakers United States | 乳製品製造 Japan | 水産ねり製品製造 Japan | 冷凍加工食品製造 Japan | 豆腐製造、豆腐職人 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $42,290 | ¥3.97M ≈ $25,230 | ¥3.97M ≈ $25,230 | ¥3.97M ≈ $25,230 | ¥3.97M ≈ $25,230 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $56,200 | ¥4.85M | ¥5.17M | ¥5.07M | ¥5.14M |
| Outlook score | 53 | 40 | 50 | 42 | 46 |
| AI replacement risk | 58% Moderate | 67% High | 29% Low | 52% Moderate | 38% Low |
| Workers | 175K | 1.2M | 1.2M | 1.2M | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Food Batchmakers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become food batchmakers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as food batchmakers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.