Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for lead operator/machine operators in the United States
Lead operator/machine operator job and salary trends over time
Compare the number of lead operator/machine operator jobs and the average lead operator/machine operator salary over time.
Lead operator/machine operator jobs over time
Lead operator/machine operator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 335,736 | 0.10% |
| 2020 | 344,140 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | 364,452 | 0.11% |
| 2018 | 369,296 | 0.11% |
| 2017 | 370,094 | 0.11% |
Average lead operator/machine operator salary over time
Lead operator/machine operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,819 | $19.14 | +5.3% |
| 2024 | $37,806 | $18.18 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $36,794 | $17.69 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $35,806 | $17.21 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $34,512 | $16.59 | +4.5% |
Lead operator/machine operator jobs by state
The map below shows you the number of lead operator/machine operator job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where lead operator/machine operators earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average salary: Job openings:
Most common states for lead operator/machine operators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 450 | 43% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 792 | 41% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,067 | 34% |
| 4 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 979 | 34% |
| 5 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 3,851 | 33% |
| 6 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,650 | 33% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 449 | 33% |
| 8 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 2,134 | 32% |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,881 | 32% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 280 | 32% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,714 | 31% |
| 12 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 538 | 31% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 3,853 | 30% |
| 14 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 3,089 | 30% |
| 15 | Alaska | 739,795 | 225 | 30% |
| 16 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 885 | 29% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 209 | 28% |
| 18 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,735 | 26% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 2,478 | 25% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 155 | 25% |
Most common cities for lead operator/machine operators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bessemer | 1 | 4% | $32,497 |
| 2 | La Vergne | 1 | 3% | $35,805 |
| 3 | Lynnwood | 1 | 3% | $38,767 |
| 4 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $40,791 |
| 5 | Carol Stream | 1 | 2% | $39,788 |
| 6 | Bridgeport | 1 | 1% | $42,900 |
| 7 | Clearwater | 1 | 1% | $36,033 |
| 8 | Elgin | 1 | 1% | $39,812 |
| 9 | Largo | 1 | 1% | $36,042 |
| 10 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $39,850 |
| 11 | Milwaukee | 2 | 0% | $37,644 |
| 12 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $44,531 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $40,015 |
| 14 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $37,719 |