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Food Manufacturing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Food Manufacturing information

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$44K

$100.2K

$136.5K

How much do food manufacturing jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for food manufacturing in the United States is $100,159.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,500.00 and $122,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is food manufacturing?

Food manufacturing is the process of transforming raw ingredients into finished food products through various methods such as processing, packaging, and distribution. This industry includes everything from large-scale production of packaged goods to specialized food items. Food manufacturing ensures that products meet quality, safety, and regulatory standards before reaching consumers. It involves numerous roles, including machine operators, quality assurance specialists, and food scientists, all working together to produce safe and consistent food products.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Food Manufacturing, and why are they important?

To excel in Food Manufacturing, strong knowledge of food safety standards, quality control, and production processes is essential, often supported by relevant certifications such as HACCP or SQF. Familiarity with manufacturing equipment, automated production systems, and inventory management software is typically required. Attention to detail, teamwork, and effective problem-solving are crucial soft skills for maintaining efficiency and product quality. These competencies ensure safe, consistent, and high-standard food production in a regulated, fast-paced environment.

What are common challenges faced by professionals in food manufacturing, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in food manufacturing often encounter challenges such as maintaining strict quality control, adhering to food safety regulations, and meeting high production demands. These challenges can be addressed by staying current with industry standards, participating in ongoing training, and working closely with quality assurance and maintenance teams. Effective communication and collaboration across departments are essential for quickly resolving issues and ensuring smooth production processes.

Is food manufacturing a good career?

Food manufacturing is a stable career that offers opportunities in production, quality control, and management. It often requires attention to safety standards, technical skills, and sometimes certifications, with work environments that can be fast-paced and physically demanding.

What jobs pay $2000 a day?

In food manufacturing, high-paying roles such as plant managers, operations directors, or specialized consultants can earn around $2,000 per day, especially with extensive experience and industry expertise. These positions often require advanced skills, certifications, and leadership responsibilities within large production facilities.

What does food manufacturing do?

Food manufacturing involves processing raw ingredients into finished food products for distribution and sale. Workers in this field operate machinery, ensure quality control, and follow safety standards to produce packaged foods in a regulated environment.

What are some jobs in the food industry?

Jobs in the food manufacturing industry include roles such as food production workers, quality control inspectors, machine operators, food scientists, and packaging technicians. These positions often require knowledge of safety standards, attention to detail, and the ability to operate specialized equipment in a factory setting.

What is the difference between Food Manufacturing vs Food Processing Worker?

AspectFood ManufacturingFood Processing Worker
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; certifications varyHigh school diploma or equivalent; some certifications may be required
Work EnvironmentFactories, production lines, industrial settingsFactories, production lines, industrial settings
Industry UsageUsed broadly across food production companiesSpecific to processing tasks within food manufacturing
Job FocusOverseeing entire production processes or specific stagesPerforming specific processing tasks like cutting, packaging

Food Manufacturing and Food Processing Worker roles are closely related, often working in the same environments. Food Manufacturing covers a broader scope, including overseeing entire production lines, while Food Processing Workers focus on specific tasks like packaging or preparing food products. Both roles require similar credentials and are essential in the food industry.

What Is the Difference Between Food Manufacturing and Food Processing?

There is one significant difference between food processing and food manufacturing, and that is what each industry does with a given food product. Food processing is taking a raw product and turning it into an ingredient, like turning vanilla beans into vanilla extract, whereas food manufacturers purchase ingredients and use them within a product, like taking the vanilla extract and using it to make cookies. Both industries work primarily in plant or factory settings, and sometimes food processing and manufacturing is done on the same site, but the duties of manufacturers versus processors differ in their day-to-day operations.

What cities are hiring for Food Manufacturing jobs? Cities with the most Food Manufacturing job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Food Manufacturing jobs? The most popular types of Food Manufacturing jobs are:
What states have the most Food Manufacturing jobs? States with the most job openings for Food Manufacturing jobs include:
Plant Manager (Food Manufacturing)

Plant Manager (Food Manufacturing)

Dessert Holdings Inc.

Le Center, MN • On-site

$170K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago


Dessert Holdings rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

308th of 381 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

PLANT MANAGER

Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Foodservice partners.

Dessert Holdings is looking for a dynamic Plant Manager responsible for plant operations in Le Center, MN. This individual is accountable for all aspects of plant performance to ensure business, operational, quality, and safety objectives are achieved through driving a culture of employee safety and food safety first in everything we do within the plant.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide leadership, direction, and training opportunities to managers and supervisors to achieve company goals and objectives.
  • Identify, select, and develop talent to ensure "bench strength" and continued development and advancement of top talent within the organization.
  • Build strong relationships across Quality, Safety, Operations, Technical Services and Commercialization teams while balancing priorities and driving culture.
  • Oversee development and implementation of company standards, policies and procedures and ensure compliance in production operations.
  • Manage assigned metrics and KPIs to drive improvement in plant output and results.
  • Drive safety initiatives in a proactive manner and promote a safe work environment in daily operations.
  • Partner with Quality to ensure quality programs (SQF, HACCP, GMP, etc.) are followed, and participate in investigation, corrective action, and prevention of food safety incidents and non-conformance.
  • Analyze manufacturing variances of ingredient, materials, and labor usage, and develop strategies to reduce them and drive a continuous improvement culture.
  • Enable and partner with product development team to ensure our ability to support speed to market and deliver premium desserts to our customers.
  • Work with Engineering, Maintenance and Sanitation teams to ensure optimization of plant layout, coordination of plant shutdowns for startups and new equipment installations, and ensure MSS is completed on time for deep cleaning events.


QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering, Food Science, or a technical field; MBA preferred
  • At least 15 years of Manufacturing leadership experience; food manufacturing/bakery preferred
  • General knowledge of USDA, SQF, GMP as well as HACCP, sanitation, quality, and safety programs required
  • Demonstrated leadership in driving strong culture in a production environment
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Black/Green belt in Six Sigma other continuous improvement tools preferred
  • Must thrive in a multi-cultural environment

About Dessert Holdings

Dessert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands: The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne's Fine Desserts, Kenny's Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

EEO Statement

Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.