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Best states for a general machine operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like general machine operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for general machine operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for general machine operators. We found that Wisconsin is the best state in the nation for general machine operators, and people in Superior earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for general machine operator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Wisconsin is the best state for general machine operator jobs, whereas Wyoming is the worst.
10 best states for general machine operators in 2026
1. Wisconsin
Total general machine operator jobs: 1,061 Average annual salary: $36,679 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
2. Maine
Total general machine operator jobs: 271 Average annual salary: $35,129 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
3. Pennsylvania
Total general machine operator jobs: 2,670 Average annual salary: $34,032 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.86
4. Rhode Island
Total general machine operator jobs: 280 Average annual salary: $34,257 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.86
5. North Dakota
Total general machine operator jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $35,032 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Washington
Total general machine operator jobs: 1,081 Average annual salary: $35,538 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
7. Oregon
Total general machine operator jobs: 752 Average annual salary: $34,384 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
8. Kansas
Total general machine operator jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $36,062 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 0.61
9. Minnesota
Total general machine operator jobs: 828 Average annual salary: $34,859 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
10. Ohio
Total general machine operator jobs: 1,374 Average annual salary: $32,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
General machine operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a general machine operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a general machine operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $36,679 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,061 |
| 2 | Maine | $35,129 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 271 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $34,032 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,670 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $34,257 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 280 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $35,032 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 143 |
| 6 | Washington | $35,538 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,081 |
| 7 | Oregon | $34,384 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 752 |
| 8 | Kansas | $36,062 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 227 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $34,859 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 828 |
| 10 | Ohio | $32,894 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,374 |
| 11 | Indiana | $33,148 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 894 |
| 12 | Idaho | $32,547 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 266 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $31,961 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 397 |
| 14 | Delaware | $32,218 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 209 |
| 15 | New York | $32,728 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,972 |
| 16 | Alaska | $30,909 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 195 |
| 17 | Michigan | $31,957 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 717 |
| 18 | Vermont | $32,022 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 103 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $31,695 | $25,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,036 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $31,694 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 592 |
| 21 | Illinois | $32,454 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,159 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $30,919 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 143 |
| 23 | California | $31,668 | $25,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,918 |
| 24 | Iowa | $31,171 | $24,000 | 3,145,711 | 434 |
| 25 | Missouri | $31,917 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 521 |
| 26 | Maryland | $32,172 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 947 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $30,499 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 373 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $31,207 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 346 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $30,895 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,599 |
| 30 | Utah | $31,000 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 305 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $33,188 | $28,000 | 1,427,538 | 82 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $31,670 | $25,000 | 693,972 | 255 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $28,634 | $23,000 | 1,920,076 | 433 |
| 34 | Nevada | $30,039 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 122 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $29,454 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 886 |
| 36 | Colorado | $30,978 | $24,000 | 5,607,154 | 299 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $28,083 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 154 |
| 38 | Arizona | $28,997 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 369 |
| 39 | Texas | $28,163 | $22,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,143 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $26,834 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 189 |
| 41 | Georgia | $27,314 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 926 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $25,457 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 664 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $26,886 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 61 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $28,166 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 45 |
| 45 | Montana | $27,642 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 43 |
| 46 | Florida | $26,927 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 852 |
| 47 | Virginia | $27,276 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 428 |
| 48 | Alabama | $23,570 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 315 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $25,150 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 120 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $24,602 | $19,000 | 3,930,864 | 108 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $19,138 | $15,000 | 579,315 | 14 |
Highest paying states for general machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. General Machine Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $36,679 |
| 2 | Maine | $35,129 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $34,032 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $34,257 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $35,032 |
| 6 | Washington | $35,538 |
| 7 | Oregon | $34,384 |
| 8 | Kansas | $36,062 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $34,859 |
| 10 | Ohio | $32,894 |
| 11 | Indiana | $33,148 |
| 12 | Idaho | $32,547 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $31,961 |
| 14 | Delaware | $32,218 |
| 15 | New York | $32,728 |
| 16 | Alaska | $30,909 |
| 17 | Michigan | $31,957 |
| 18 | Vermont | $32,022 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $31,695 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $31,694 |
| 21 | Illinois | $32,454 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $30,919 |
| 23 | California | $31,668 |
| 24 | Iowa | $31,171 |
| 25 | Missouri | $31,917 |
| 26 | Maryland | $32,172 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $30,499 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $31,207 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $30,895 |
| 30 | Utah | $31,000 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $33,188 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $31,670 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $28,634 |
| 34 | Nevada | $30,039 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $29,454 |
| 36 | Colorado | $30,978 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $28,083 |
| 38 | Arizona | $28,997 |
| 39 | Texas | $28,163 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $26,834 |
| 41 | Georgia | $27,314 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $25,457 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $26,886 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $28,166 |
| 45 | Montana | $27,642 |
| 46 | Florida | $26,927 |
| 47 | Virginia | $27,276 |
| 48 | Alabama | $23,570 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $25,150 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $24,602 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $19,138 |
General machine operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025