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Coffee roaster: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$44,810median pay per year, or $21.54 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $33,250lowest 10% earn less
  2. $37,54025th percentile
  3. $44,810median
  4. $50,68075th percentile
  5. $62,680top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A coffee roaster belongs to the BLS category of food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders, which had a median pay of $44,810 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.4%[2]
Openings per year
2,500[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[7]

How much do coffee roasters make?

In May 2025, the median pay for this category was $44,810 a year, or $21.54 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $45,930 a year, or $22.08 an hour[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,250 a year, and the 90th percentile was $62,680[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Level Yearly Hourly
10th percentile[4][10] $33,250 $15.98
25th percentile[4][10] $37,540 $18.05
Median[1] $44,810 $21.54
75th percentile[4][10] $50,680 $24.37
90th percentile[4][10] $62,680 $30.14

For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[5]. So the median here sat below that figure[1][5].

These numbers cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. About 20,370 people held these jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS lists 44 states with published data[13]. North Dakota had the top median at $77,300, but that came from only 30 jobs[13]. Next came Maryland at $60,170, Colorado at $59,590, Virginia at $59,260 and Alaska at $55,280[13].

Texas had the most jobs at 1,800, followed by California (1,630), North Carolina (1,510), New York (1,370) and Minnesota (1,120)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD had the top median at $78,750[15]. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO followed at $62,890, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $60,230[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 1,190, with a median of $47,110[16].

Show median pay in 44 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
North Dakota[13]$77,30030
Maryland$60,170200
Colorado$59,590500
Virginia$59,260270
Alaska$55,28030
Nevada$54,950130
Washington$50,590720
Minnesota$50,3401,120
Maine$50,220100
Pennsylvania$49,660540
New York$49,0201,370
Wisconsin$48,560540
Kentucky$48,540340
Idaho$48,250430
Michigan$48,240700
Iowa$47,960660
Utah$47,940130
Oregon$46,250500
California$45,6001,630
Massachusetts$45,400190
Hawaii$45,39090
Arkansas$45,080580
South Dakota$45,040120
Kansas$44,550220
Ohio$44,190910
Missouri$43,4601,030
Nebraska$43,410440
Indiana$43,370260
Arizona$43,01090
Oklahoma$42,390370
Connecticut$41,72060
Vermont$40,99080
South Carolina$40,000140
Tennessee$39,130350
Louisiana$38,44080
Illinois$38,230440
Georgia$37,390290
New Jersey$37,140630
Texas$37,1401,800
Mississippi$37,03060
North Carolina$35,9801,510
New Mexico$35,48070
Montana$35,360130
Florida$35,340360

How to become a coffee roaster

The facts describe a short path in.

Employers may require or prefer a high school diploma or equivalent[20]. Math and reading skills help when workers adjust ingredient amounts[21].

In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 61% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 23% said less than a high school diploma, 11% said some college courses and 6% said a post-secondary certificate[22].

The facts do not list any license or exam.

What coffee roasters do

These workers run or tend equipment that roasts, bakes or dries food items such as cocoa, coffee beans, grains and nuts[23][24]. Common tasks include:

Workers in this field report job titles such as roaster, roast master and oven operator[25].

Where they work

The BLS profile for the wider group of food processing equipment workers says 78% worked in food manufacturing in 2025[26][18]. Plants are large, open-floor spaces with loud machines[27]. Cooking equipment can mean high heat, and cold storage areas can mean long stretches in the cold[27].

Workers may need hearing protection, and they may also wear masks, hairnets or gloves[28]. Workers usually stand while tending machines, and loading or cleaning can involve lifting, bending and reaching[29]. Shift work is common, with early, evening or overnight hours, and some positions are seasonal[30][31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 21,600 to 21,700 jobs, a gain of about 100[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[3].

Still, about 2,500 openings a year are projected over those years[6]. Openings count people who retire or switch occupations as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 4.1% of workers leave the labor force and 7.2% move to a different occupation[32].

BLS counts about 20,370 wage and salary jobs[12]. The projection counts include the self-employed, who made up 8.3% of workers in 2025[2][33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with a low barrier to entry. No formal credential is typical, and training happens on the job[7]. Median pay was below the all-occupations median, though the 90th percentile reached $62,680[1][5][4]. Job growth is slow at 0.4%, but openings of about 2,500 a year come from turnover as well as new jobs[2][6]. The work involves standing, noise and heat in a plant setting[27][29].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a coffee roaster make an hour?
In May 2025, the median was $21.54 an hour and the average was $22.08 an hour for this BLS category[1][8].
What education do you need to be a coffee roaster?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as typical for entry, plus moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
Are coffee roaster jobs in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 2,500 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the top paying state for coffee roasters?
North Dakota had the top median at $77,300, based on 30 jobs[13]. Maryland was next at $60,170[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in the US was $44,810 per year and $21.54 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders is projected to grow 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 21,600 to 21,700 jobs (a change of +100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $33,250, 25th percentile $37,540, 75th percentile $50,680, 90th percentile $62,680. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,500 openings for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders was $45,930 per year and $22.08 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $15.98, 25th percentile $18.05, 75th percentile $24.37, 90th percentile $30.14. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 20,370 people were employed as Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders jobs: Texas 1,800; California 1,630; North Carolina 1,510; New York 1,370; Minnesota 1,120. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $78,750; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $62,890; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $60,230; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $56,270; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $50,680; Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $49,970; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,920; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $48,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,190 (median $47,110); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 460 (median $48,330); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 440 (median $38,230); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 420 (median $38,060); Omaha, NE-IA 380 (median $43,410); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 340 (median $48,000). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Food Processing Equipment Workers" covers Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 51-3091.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 61%, Less than a High School Diploma 23%, Some College Courses 11%, Post-Secondary Certificate 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 51-3091.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bean Roaster, Coffee Roaster, Line Operator, Machine Operator, Oven Operator, Oven Technician, Roast Master, Roaster. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of food processing equipment workers in 2025: Food manufacturing 78%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders: 4.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections: 8.3% of Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.