ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Food Processing Plant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

UNITED COOPERATIVE

Plant Manager

Necedah, WI

Qualifications: * 5+ years prior manufacturing experience required, preferably in ethanol production, or feed/food/chemical related processing plant knowledge. * Demonstrated progressive leadership ...

United Cooperative

Plant Manager

Necedah, WI · On-site

Qualifications: * 5+ years prior manufacturing experience required, preferably in ethanol production, or feed/food/chemical related processing plant knowledge. * Demonstrated progressive leadership ...

PAFCO

QA / QC Supervisor

Vernon, CA · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Prior experience in a Food Processing Plant environment * Prior experience in Environmental Swabbing- sponge sampling, ATP swabbing, surface swabbing * Previous QC experience and supervisory ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsFood Processing Plant Jobs

Food Processing Plant information

See salary details

$14

$24

$33

How much do food processing plant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for food processing plant in the United States is $24.10, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.19 and $27.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Food Processing Plant vs Food Production Worker?

AspectFood Processing PlantFood Production Worker
CredentialsMay require safety certifications, food handling licensesTypically no formal certifications required, on-the-job training
Work EnvironmentFactories with machinery, cold or hot environmentsProduction lines, manufacturing floors
Industry UsageUsed to describe the facility and overall operationRefers to individual workers on the production line
Search IntentLooking for jobs at food processing plants or facility infoSeeking employment as a worker on the production line

Food Processing Plant refers to the entire facility involved in food manufacturing, while Food Production Worker describes the individual employees working on the production line within such a plant. Both roles are interconnected but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What does a food processing plant do?

A food processing plant is a facility where raw ingredients are transformed into finished food products through processes such as cleaning, cooking, packaging, and preservation. Workers in these plants operate machinery, follow safety protocols, and ensure quality control to produce safe, shelf-stable foods. Skills in food safety standards and equipment operation are important in this environment.

What jobs pay 2000 a day?

In a food processing plant, high-paying roles such as plant managers, operations directors, or specialized engineers can earn around $2,000 per day, especially with extensive experience or certifications. These positions often require advanced skills, leadership abilities, and sometimes overtime or shift work to reach such compensation levels.

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

Success in a Food Processing Plant requires knowledge of food safety regulations, basic machinery operation, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with HACCP protocols, industrial kitchen equipment, and inventory management systems is commonly expected. Attention to detail, teamwork, and the ability to follow instructions precisely are vital soft skills in this environment. These competencies ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and efficient, safe operations in food production settings.

What's the highest paying job in the food industry?

In the food processing plant industry, executive roles such as plant managers or operations directors tend to be the highest paid, often earning six-figure salaries. These positions require extensive experience, leadership skills, and knowledge of production processes and safety regulations.

What are some common challenges faced by employees working in a food processing plant?

Employees in a food processing plant often encounter challenges such as adhering to strict hygiene and safety protocols, working in fast-paced environments, and managing repetitive tasks. Teams must collaborate closely to ensure quality control and meet production targets, which can sometimes require overtime or shift work. Additionally, adapting to new machinery or technologies and staying updated with food safety regulations are important aspects of the role.

What is a food processing plant?

A food processing plant is a facility where raw food materials are transformed into finished products for consumption through various physical and chemical processes. These plants handle tasks such as cleaning, sorting, cooking, packaging, and preserving food items to ensure safety and extend shelf life. Food processing plants are essential for producing a wide range of products including canned goods, frozen foods, dairy items, and baked goods. They follow strict hygiene and safety regulations to maintain food quality and prevent contamination.

What are the 4 types of food processing?

Food processing involves four main types: primary processing, which includes cleaning, sorting, and packaging; secondary processing, such as cutting, mixing, and cooking; preservation methods like freezing, canning, and drying; and packaging, which ensures product safety and shelf life. Workers in food processing plants often operate specialized equipment and follow safety protocols to ensure quality and compliance.
More about Food Processing Plant jobs
What cities are hiring for Food Processing Plant jobs? Cities with the most Food Processing Plant job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Food Processing Plant jobs? The most popular types of Food Processing Plant jobs are:
What states have the most Food Processing Plant jobs? States with the most job openings for Food Processing Plant jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Food Processing Plant jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Food Processing Plant jobs are:
Food Processing Plant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Food Processing Plant job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 91% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,134 per year, or $24.1 per hour.
Engineering Manager - Food Plant

Engineering Manager - Food Plant

MRINetwork Jobs

Darien, WI • On-site

$130K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Our client – a global food processing company needs an Engineering Manager- Food Plant at their plant in Wisconsin. Excellent salary + Annual Bonus + generous relocation + benefits package.

Job Posting # 2712R

Job Title: Engineering Manager- Food Plant

Location: Darien, WI

Compensation: Salary of $130K - $165K/Yr + Annual Bonus (Target – 15%) + Stock purchase Plan

Relocation & Benefits: YES - Client offers a Generous Relocation + Benefits Package

Company Info:

Our client is a premier food producer. It is a global company in business for 100 + years, with sales of around $11B+ and 18K+ people worldwide and around 38 plants.

Group Info: Be part of a plant with 700K Sq Feet of plant size with around 800 people, processing raw vegetables into frozen packages and meals. This plant has capex budget of $30M per year and is commissioning a state of the art 100-foot Tunnel Freezer using refrigerant Ammonia + Nitrogen.

This role reports to the Plant Manager and will have 4 direct reports – 1 Project Engineer, 1 Automation Controls Engineer, 1 Facility-Utility Manager and 1 PSM Co-Ordinator. The Maintenance department does NOT report to this role.

Note 1: The plant does not use city water, but treats water from Wells. The plant also treats, its own waste water using Septic system. Any experience in water/waste treatment is not required but a huge plus.

Note 2: The plant has extensive refrigeration systems using Ammonia & Nitrogen for product flash freezing and Cold storage freezers and plant HVAC. Any experience in above gases is not required but a huge plus.

Note 3: The plant process raw vegetables and has extensive process food safety, environmental safety programs in place. Any experience in Process Plant Safety is not required but a huge plus.

Note 4: The plant Project Engineer handles smaller local projects. All huge capital expansion project like the 100-foot Tunnel freezer is handled by the Corporate Project Management team. Project Management of large CAPEX projects is not required but a huge plus.

Job Summary:

  • Develop and implement overall plant technical strategies focused on engineering projects, maintenance and stores improvement programs.
  • Develop vertical startup processes to ensure implementation of low loss production systems.
  • Provide solutions to technical problems and recommendations for improvements in production activities and manage the plant technical organization.
  • Develop and lead plant specific engineering strategies to achieve performance goals.
  • Create/manage dept. plant expense budgets and work with Corporate Engineering to deliver the capital budget.

Job Description:

  • Assist Plant in establishing safety of all of our team members as the plant's first objective.
  • Lead the cross-functional development and implementation of the capital plan including the engagement of related Plant and Corporate functions such as Safety, Sanitation, Quality, Environmental, Operations, Maintenance, Finance and Operations
  • Work with Platform Engineering Director to resource projects including Engineering Project Manager, Subject Matter Expert and Startup Manager roles.
  • Support the Plant in conducting internal systems audits.
  • Support the Plant in providing direction and lead the EM Pillar Team in the development of long and short-term plans and goals for the Plant.
  • Support the Plant in providing project and technical support to the plant and division.
  • Support the Plant in participating on and leading project teams that improve safety, quality, utilization, labor relations, sanitation, costs and customer service.
  • Manage the Utilities team and ensure functionality and compliance within our plant utilities processes such as: Refrigeration, Ammonia, Nitrogen, Steam, Natural Gas and Compressed Air.
  • Lead the Plant in preparing and conducting necessary team meetings for proper communications and development of teams.
  • Must also have the ability to work with Maintenance, Quality, Production and Warehouse teams to create a cooperative environment.
  • Give work direction and coordinating mechanical and clerical activities in the maintenance department.

Candidate Must Have:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
  • Min. 5 years of experience in Food Manufacturing plants.
  • 2+ years of Management experience in Food plant engineering and/or Projects
  • Good leadership skills. Work as a peer mentor and advisor to other departments.
  • Lead and work well within cross functional teams
  • Ability to rotate shifts and work weekends and holidays when required
  • Experience communicating with all levels at the plant and making presentations to all levels

Nice to Have:

  • PE license or Master’s degree
  • Project Management Professional - PMP certified
  • Project Management experience for expansion/upgrades and working with Corporate PM group.
  • Utilities – Facilities experience with HVAC, Compress Air, Natural gas, Steam, Well and Waste water treatment, Electrical Power etc.
  • Refrigeration systems experience with Ammonia, Nitrogen for food flash + storage freezers.
  • Plant Process Food Safety and PSM experience.
  • Experience with AutoCAD, SolidWorks or similar.
  • Experience with SAP or other ERP applications.
  • Maintenance Engineering, CMMS system and Management.

Keywords: Project Manager, Manager Engineering, Manager Projects, manufacturing, plant, USDA, FDA, Food, PMP, Project Engineer, PE, Refrigeration Ammonia, Nitrogen, SAP, PSM, Well – Waste Water treatment.