What Does A Food Batchmaker Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Food Batchmakers

Food Batchmakers set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.

Salary
$34970
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Low

Personality


What they do

Food Batchmakers set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.

  • Record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle.
  • Follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.
  • 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.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Food Batchmakers record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle. They follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.

A typical day for a Food Batchmaker will also include:

  • Set up, operate, and tend equipment that cooks, mixes, blends, or processes ingredients in the manufacturing of food products, according to formulas or recipes.
  • Press switches and turns knobs to start, adjust and regulate equipment, such as beaters, extruders, discharge pipes, and salt pumps.
  • Turn valve controls to start equipment and to adjust operation to maintain product quality.
  • Select and measure or weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales.
  • Fill processing or cooking containers, such as kettles, rotating cookers, pressure cookers, or vats, with ingredients, by opening valves, by starting pumps or injectors, or by hand.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Food Batchmakers also clean and sterilize vats and factory processing areas. They may also inspect vats after cleaning to ensure that fermentable residue has been removed.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Food Batchmakers homogenize or pasteurize material to prevent separation or to obtain prescribed butterfat content, using a homogenizing device. They might also inspect and pack the final product.

In addition, they cool food product batches on slabs or in water-cooled kettles.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them give directions to other workers who are assisting in the batchmaking process.

To some Food Batchmakers, it is also their responsibility to follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$34970 per year

Average hourly wage

$17 per hour

Entry-level Food Batchmakers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $22,890 to $27,170 per year or $11 to $13 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $50,580 $24
Senior (Top 25%) $41,370 $20
Median $32,710 $16
Junior (Bottom 25%) $27,170 $13
No experience (Bottom 10%) $22,890 $11

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Food Batchmakers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Grain and Oilseed Milling $44510 $21.40
Beverage Manufacturing $44440 $21.37
Special Food Services $42110 $20.25
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods $40870 $19.65
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing $37730 $18.14
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods $37460 $18.01
Dairy Product Manufacturing $37170 $17.87
Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging $37050 $17.81
Animal Food Manufacturing $36690 $17.64
Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing $35530 $17.08

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Food Batchmakers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Food Batchmakers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing 26160 $35280 $16.96
Other Food Manufacturing 23970 $34790 $16.72
Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing 23210 $35530 $17.08
Dairy Product Manufacturing 20850 $37170 $17.87
Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing 11930 $34300 $16.49
Employment Services 8970 $30240 $14.54
Food and Beverage Stores 7840 $30700 $14.76
Animal Slaughtering and Processing 7050 $31790 $15.28
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods 5290 $32710 $15.73
Animal Food Manufacturing 4200 $36690 $17.64

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
2%

40 hours
45%

More than 40 hours
53%

Working schedule

76%

21%

3%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
16%

Every day
16%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
19%

Every day
30%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
7%

Every day
67%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
53%

Once a year
29%

Once a month
3%

Once a week
14%

Every day
1%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
33%

Slightly competitive
18%

Moderately competitive
25%

Highly competitive
18%

Extremely competitive
7%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
38%

Once a year or more
9%

Once a month or more
3%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
48%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
29%

Once a year or more
13%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
9%

Every day
49%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
55%

Once a year or more
9%

Once a month or more
7%

Once a week or more
16%

Every day
14%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
68%

Once a year or more
8%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
12%

Every day
7%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
12%

High School Diploma or equivalent
86%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
2%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Brewing Science

A program that focuses on the business, science, and technology of beer brewing operations. Includes instruction in biology, biochemistry, brewing, entrepreneurship, fermentation, malting, marketing, microbiology, quality control, and sanitation.

Zymology/Fermentation Science

A program that focuses on the business, science, and technology of fermented food production. Includes instruction in biology, biochemistry, brewing, entrepreneurship, fermentation, marketing, microbiology, quality control, and sanitation.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
47%

1 month
18%

1 to 3 months
6%

3 to 6 months
3%

6 months to 1 year
10%

1 to 2 years
14%

2 to 4 years
4%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
9%

1 month
37%

1 to 3 months
20%

3 to 6 months
7%

6 months to 1 year
21%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
5%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
48%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
24%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
43%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
86%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
29%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
31%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
24%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
48%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
62%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
29%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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