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The average salary for a Machine Operator Assistant is approximately $34,414 annually. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographic location, experience, and specific industry. For instance, states with higher manufacturing activity often offer greater compensation.
In regions with a strong manufacturing presence, such as California and Texas, salaries tend to be higher. The highest-paying cities for this role include:
With experience, machine operator assistants can advance to higher-paying positions, such as lead operators or supervisors. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for anyone considering a career in this field, as it helps align expectations with market realities.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level machine operator assistant | $26,100 | $12.57 |
| Mid-level machine operator assistant | $33,400 | $16.04 |
| Senior-level machine operator assistant | $40,500 | $19.49 |
The highest-paying states for machine operators assistant are North Dakota, Washington, and Minnesota. The lowest average machine operator assistant salary states are New Mexico, Louisiana, and North Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $38,985 | $18.74 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $37,845 | $18.19 |
| 3 | Iowa | $38,152 | $18.34 |
| 4 | Kansas | $38,917 | $18.71 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $36,217 | $17.41 |
| 6 | Missouri | $38,249 | $18.39 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $42,867 | $20.61 |
| 8 | Maine | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $35,747 | $17.19 |
| 10 | Michigan | $36,197 | $17.40 |
| 11 | Ohio | $35,057 | $16.85 |
| 12 | Alaska | $36,268 | $17.44 |
| 13 | Washington | $39,474 | $18.98 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $34,667 | $16.67 |
| 15 | Oregon | $36,964 | $17.77 |
| 16 | Illinois | $35,620 | $17.13 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $34,758 | $16.71 |
| 18 | Idaho | $36,141 | $17.38 |
| 19 | California | $38,158 | $18.35 |
| 20 | Indiana | $33,659 | $16.18 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $34,357 | $16.52 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $35,887 | $17.25 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $35,229 | $16.94 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $34,574 | $16.62 |
| 25 | Delaware | $35,611 | $17.12 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $33,249 | $15.99 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $34,956 | $16.81 |
| 28 | Colorado | $36,086 | $17.35 |
| 29 | Vermont | $34,206 | $16.45 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $32,132 | $15.45 |
| 31 | Maryland | $35,439 | $17.04 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $30,839 | $14.83 |
| 33 | Montana | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| 34 | Nevada | $32,998 | $15.86 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $32,154 | $15.46 |
| 36 | Utah | $31,449 | $15.12 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $31,801 | $15.29 |
| 38 | Texas | $32,637 | $15.69 |
| 39 | New York | $34,325 | $16.50 |
| 40 | Georgia | $30,832 | $14.82 |
| 41 | Arizona | $31,907 | $15.34 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $30,226 | $14.53 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $28,302 | $13.61 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $29,911 | $14.38 |
| 45 | Florida | $29,314 | $14.09 |
| 46 | Alabama | $26,953 | $12.96 |
| 47 | Virginia | $30,278 | $14.56 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $28,802 | $13.85 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $29,283 | $14.08 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $27,516 | $13.23 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $21,136 | $10.16 |
The highest-paying cities for machine operators assistant are Grand Forks, ND, Renton, WA, and Roseville, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks, ND | $43,103 | $20.72 |
| 2 | Renton, WA | $39,615 | $19.05 |
| 3 | Roseville, MN | $39,058 | $18.78 |
| 4 | Menlo Park, CA | $38,781 | $18.64 |
| 5 | Blue Springs, MO | $38,339 | $18.43 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $37,034 | $17.80 |
| 7 | Oshkosh, WI | $36,668 | $17.63 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | $36,263 | $17.43 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $36,071 | $17.34 |
| 10 | Romeoville, IL | $35,567 | $17.10 |
| 11 | Meriden, CT | $35,340 | $16.99 |
| 12 | Lancaster, OH | $34,439 | $16.56 |
| 13 | Richmond, IN | $33,516 | $16.11 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $32,791 | $15.76 |
| 15 | Kingman, AZ | $32,426 | $15.59 |
| 16 | Clarksville, TN | $31,017 | $14.91 |
| 17 | Alpharetta, GA | $30,878 | $14.85 |
| 18 | Richmond, VA | $30,225 | $14.53 |
| 19 | Greenville, NC | $28,350 | $13.63 |
A machine operator assistant's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $42,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $34,414 | $2,868 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of machine operators assistant are relief operator, cell operator, and press machine operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pack Out Operator | $33,217 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 73,108 |
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
| Molder Operator | $31,707 | $2,642 | $15.24 | 66,217 |
| Relief Operator | $42,693 | $3,558 | $20.53 | 64,469 |
| Packaging Operator | $34,269 | $2,856 | $16.48 | 85,698 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
Top companies hiring machine operators assistant now:
Machine operator assistant salaries at CPI Card Group and Halliburton are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average machine operator assistant salary at companies like Brigham and Women's Hospital and Olympic Steel are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CPI Card Group | $42,778 | $20.57 |
| 2 | Halliburton | $42,451 | $20.41 |
| 3 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $41,653 | $20.03 |
| 4 | Olympic Steel | $41,444 | $19.93 |
| 5 | AT&T | $41,020 | $19.72 |
| 6 | Amcor | $40,792 | $19.61 |
| 7 | AstenJohnson | $40,436 | $19.44 |
| 8 | San Diego College of Continuing Education | $40,198 | $19.33 |
| 9 | Alro Steel | $39,878 | $19.17 |
| 10 | Tilsner Carton | $39,209 | $18.85 |
| 11 | Reyes Holdings | $38,858 | $18.68 |
| 12 | International Paper | $38,809 | $18.66 |
| 13 | Kingspan Group | $38,785 | $18.65 |
| 14 | Johns Manville | $38,602 | $18.56 |
| 15 | Donaldson | $38,333 | $18.43 |
| 16 | Bosch USA | $38,247 | $18.39 |
| 17 | Meta | $37,519 | $18.04 |
| 18 | MeadWestvaco | $37,405 | $17.98 |
| 19 | Packaging Corporation of America | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 20 | New French Bakery | $37,165 | $17.87 |
The average machine operator assistant salary has risen by $7,401 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average machine operator assistant earned $27,013 annually, but today, they earn $34,414 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for machine operators assistant over the last decade.
Compare machine operator assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare machine operator assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,400 | $16.55 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $32,700 | $15.71 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $31,800 | $15.29 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $30,900 | $14.88 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $29,800 | $14.34 | +4.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smurfit Westrock | Machine Operator Assistant | Aurora, IL | 06/27/2025 | $47,897 |
| Taylor Print & Visual Impressions | Equipment Operator Assistant | Bloomington, IL | 06/26/2025 | $34,436 |
| Westrock Company | Machine Operator Assistant | Aurora, IL | 06/25/2025 | $47,897 |
| Smurfit Westrock | Machine Operator Assistant | Springfield, MO | 06/25/2025 | $47,855 |
| Smurfit Westrock | Machine Operator Assistant | Rogers, AR | 06/25/2025 | $41,698 |
| Packaging Corporation of America | Machine Operator Asst | Kalamazoo, MI | 06/23/2025 | $46,978 |
| Emcor | Plant Operator Assistant-Graveyard Shift | Cabazon, CA | 06/20/2025 | $37,566 |
| ePac Flexible Packaging | Machine Operator Assistant-1ST Shift | Solon, OH | 06/20/2025 | $39,653 |
| Staffmark Group | Machine Operator Assistant | Atkins, AR | 06/19/2025 | $31,305 |
| Manpowergroup | Machine Operator Assistant | Appleton, WI | 06/13/2025 | $52,592 |
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