The median annual wage for food and tobacco processing workers was $26,350 in May 2015. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,700, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $43,400.

Median annual wages for food and tobacco processing workers in May 2015 were as follows:

Most food and tobacco processing workers are employed full time. Because of production schedules, working early morning, evening, or night shifts is common in many manufacturing facilities.

Some food processing facilities are seasonal and open only a few months a year. During this period facilities may operate 24 hours a day and require workers to work one of the various shifts.