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Handle machine operator salary
Average handle machine operator salary
$14.23
Average Handle Machine Operator Salary
The salary for a Handle Machine Operator varies widely across the United States, reflecting differences in demand and cost of living. Currently, the average salary stands at $29,598 annually, which corresponds to an hourly rate of around $14.23. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while experienced operators can earn significantly more.
How Experience Impacts Salary
Experience plays a critical role in determining earnings. Entry-level operators may earn closer to $25,000 per year, while those with several years of experience can see their salaries rise to $35,000 or more. This variance highlights the importance of gaining experience and developing skills in this field.
Regional Salary Differences
Geographical location significantly influences salary levels. States like California and New York often offer higher compensation due to their elevated living costs. Conversely, regions with lower costs, such as Alabama or Mississippi, may provide lower average salaries. This regional disparity is essential for aspiring operators to consider when evaluating job opportunities.
Job Opportunities
Handle machine operators are in demand across various industries, including manufacturing, construction, and logistics. By understanding salary trends and regional variations, job seekers can better navigate their career paths and make informed decisions about their future.
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Where can a Handle Machine Operator earn more?
Handle machine operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level handle machine operator | $22,500 | $10.81 |
| Mid-level handle machine operator | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Senior-level handle machine operator | $34,900 | $16.76 |
Average handle machine operator salary by state
The average handle machine operator salary in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average handle machine operator salary states are Alaska, Arkansas, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for handle machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $32,101 | $15.43 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $31,133 | $14.97 |
| 3 | Indiana | $28,612 | $13.76 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $29,741 | $14.30 |
| 5 | Maine | $30,408 | $14.62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $28,957 | $13.92 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $28,036 | $13.48 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $31,838 | $15.31 |
| 9 | Illinois | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| 10 | Ohio | $26,544 | $12.76 |
| 11 | California | $31,615 | $15.20 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $29,864 | $14.36 |
| 13 | Nevada | $28,683 | $13.79 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $28,047 | $13.48 |
| 15 | Arizona | $27,880 | $13.40 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $28,373 | $13.64 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $30,745 | $14.78 |
| 18 | Iowa | $25,414 | $12.22 |
| 19 | Washington | $28,451 | $13.68 |
| 20 | Vermont | $26,570 | $12.77 |
| 21 | Maryland | $27,301 | $13.13 |
| 22 | Michigan | $25,553 | $12.29 |
| 23 | Delaware | $28,029 | $13.48 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $24,756 | $11.90 |
| 25 | Kansas | $26,051 | $12.52 |
| 26 | Oregon | $27,519 | $13.23 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $25,372 | $12.20 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $25,413 | $12.22 |
| 29 | Idaho | $26,119 | $12.56 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $24,992 | $12.02 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $25,650 | $12.33 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $24,981 | $12.01 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $23,736 | $11.41 |
| 34 | Utah | $25,038 | $12.04 |
| 35 | Colorado | $26,926 | $12.95 |
| 36 | Missouri | $25,112 | $12.07 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $27,239 | $13.10 |
| 38 | Texas | $24,989 | $12.01 |
| 39 | New York | $26,283 | $12.64 |
| 40 | Alaska | $23,200 | $11.15 |
| 41 | Georgia | $23,398 | $11.25 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $23,168 | $11.14 |
| 43 | Alabama | $23,449 | $11.27 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $23,398 | $11.25 |
| 45 | Florida | $24,106 | $11.59 |
| 46 | Virginia | $24,705 | $11.88 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $23,138 | $11.12 |
| 48 | Montana | $23,442 | $11.27 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $22,865 | $10.99 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $22,077 | $10.61 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $16,162 | $7.77 |
Highest paying cities for handle machine operators
The highest-paying cities for handle machine operators are Redwood City, CA, Middletown, CT, and York, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $32,076 | $15.42 |
| 2 | Middletown, CT | $31,927 | $15.35 |
| 3 | York, PA | $31,697 | $15.24 |
| 4 | Bolingbrook, IL | $30,126 | $14.48 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $28,953 | $13.92 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,387 | $13.65 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $28,263 | $13.59 |
| 8 | Haverhill, MA | $28,082 | $13.50 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $27,918 | $13.42 |
| 10 | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | $27,221 | $13.09 |
| 11 | Grand Rapids, MI | $25,332 | $12.18 |
| 12 | Sioux Falls, SD | $25,323 | $12.17 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $25,176 | $12.10 |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | $25,020 | $12.03 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $24,861 | $11.95 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $24,719 | $11.88 |
| 17 | Orlando, FL | $24,086 | $11.58 |
| 18 | Olive Branch, MS | $23,565 | $11.33 |
| 19 | Gainesville, GA | $23,462 | $11.28 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, AR | $23,081 | $11.10 |
Handle machine operator salary details
A handle machine operator's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $36,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a handle machine operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $29,598 | $2,467 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying handle machine operator jobs
The highest paying types of handle machine operators are relief operator, mill operator, and cell operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Operator | $35,185 | $2,932 | $16.92 | 117,254 |
| Pack Out Operator | $33,217 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 73,108 |
| Forklift Operator | $34,213 | $2,851 | $16.45 | 213,020 |
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
| Lift Operator | $32,309 | $2,692 | $15.53 | 72,445 |
| Mill Operator | $39,045 | $3,254 | $18.77 | 64,574 |
Top companies hiring handle machine operators now:
Which companies pay handle machine operators the most?
Handle machine operator salaries at Land O'Lakes and Alro Steel are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average handle machine operator salary at companies like Adhesives Research and The Mundy Companies are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land O'Lakes | $40,539 | $19.49 |
| 2 | Alro Steel | $39,068 | $18.78 |
| 3 | Adhesives Research | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| 4 | The Mundy Companies | $35,024 | $16.84 |
| 5 | J.P. Morgan | $34,487 | $16.58 |
| 6 | MAC Valves | $33,290 | $16.00 |
| 7 | Nuspire | $31,970 | $15.37 |
| 8 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $31,765 | $15.27 |
| 9 | Shaw Industries | $31,199 | $15.00 |
| 10 | Ryerson | $31,024 | $14.92 |
| 11 | Westside | $30,941 | $14.88 |
| 12 | Metals | $30,496 | $14.66 |
| 13 | Allina Health | $30,286 | $14.56 |
| 14 | LGS Technologies | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| 15 | Caliper Family of Companies | $29,546 | $14.20 |
| 16 | Aerotek | $29,293 | $14.08 |
| 17 | Allegiance Staffing | $29,286 | $14.08 |
| 18 | Wiley Metal | $29,237 | $14.06 |
| 19 | The Reserves Network | $29,225 | $14.05 |
| 20 | Kelly Services | $29,194 | $14.04 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Handle Machine Operator salary by industry
The average handle machine operator salary varies across industries:
- The average handle machine operator salary in the manufacturing industry is $34,314, the highest of any industry.
- The average handle machine operator salary in the finance industry is $32,612.
- Handle machine operators in the retail industry earn an average salary of $27,796, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for handle machine operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $34,314 | $16.50 |
| 2 | Automotive | $32,612 | $15.68 |
| 3 | Transportation | $30,642 | $14.73 |
| 4 | Professional | $29,695 | $14.28 |
| 5 | Technology | $29,222 | $14.05 |
| 6 | Retail | $27,796 | $13.36 |
High paying handle machine operator jobs
Handle machine operator salary trends
The average handle machine operator salary has risen by $6,366 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average handle machine operator earned $23,232 annually, but today, they earn $29,598 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for handle machine operators over the last decade.
Compare handle machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average handle machine operator salary over time
Compare handle machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Handle machine operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,600 | $14.23 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $28,100 | $13.51 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $27,300 | $13.15 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $26,600 | $12.80 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $25,700 | $12.33 | +4.3% |
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