Best cities for a machine operator
The best cities for machine operators are Fort Wayne, IN, Toledo, OH, and Louisville, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for machine operators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for machine operators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a machine operator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for machine operators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for machine operators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a machine operator. While the absolute best city for machine operators is Fort Wayne, IN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for machine operators in 2024.
If you're looking for a machine operator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for machine operators in 2025
1. Fort Wayne, IN
Machine operator jobs in Fort WayneTotal machine operator jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $34,177 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 5.32 2. Toledo, OH
Machine operator jobs in ToledoTotal machine operator jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $34,133 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 1.98 3. Louisville, KY
Machine operator jobs in LouisvilleTotal machine operator jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $34,138 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 2.05 4. North Las Vegas, NV
Machine operator jobs in North Las VegasTotal machine operator jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $33,826 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 5.45 5. Cincinnati, OH
Machine operator jobs in CincinnatiTotal machine operator jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $32,997 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 2.22 6. Milwaukee, WI
Machine operator jobs in MilwaukeeTotal machine operator jobs: 196 Average annual salary: $35,847 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 2.82 7. Cleveland, OH
Machine operator jobs in ClevelandTotal machine operator jobs: 83 Average annual salary: $34,131 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 1.48 8. Kansas City, MO
Machine operator jobs in Kansas CityTotal machine operator jobs: 131 Average annual salary: $34,471 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.75 9. Indianapolis, IN
Machine operator jobs in IndianapolisTotal machine operator jobs: 215 Average annual salary: $33,581 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 1.55 10. Omaha, NE
Machine operator jobs in OmahaTotal machine operator jobs: 178 Average annual salary: $31,734 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 2.38
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Best cities for machine operators
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Toledo, OH
- Louisville, KY
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Cincinnati, OH
- Milwaukee, WI
- Cleveland, OH
- Kansas City, MO
- Indianapolis, IN
- Omaha, NE
Detailed list of the best cities for a machine operator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne, IN | $34,177 | $27,000 | 264,488 | 109 |
| 2 | Toledo, OH | $34,133 | $27,000 | 278,508 | 31 |
| 3 | Louisville, KY | $34,138 | $27,000 | 597,337 | 127 |
| 4 | North Las Vegas, NV | $33,826 | $26,000 | 238,702 | 21 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $32,997 | $26,000 | 298,800 | 169 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $35,847 | $28,000 | 595,047 | 196 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $34,131 | $27,000 | 385,809 | 83 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $34,471 | $27,000 | 481,420 | 131 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $33,581 | $26,000 | 855,164 | 215 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $31,734 | $25,000 | 446,970 | 178 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $34,360 | $27,000 | 245,255 | 34 |
| 12 | Henderson, NV | $33,807 | $26,000 | 292,969 | 14 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $33,436 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 186 |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | $30,190 | $23,000 | 287,027 | 106 |
| 15 | Winston-Salem, NC | $30,196 | $23,000 | 242,203 | 57 |
| 16 | Lexington, KY | $34,116 | $26,000 | 318,449 | 20 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $37,003 | $29,000 | 413,651 | 189 |
| 18 | Madison, WI | $35,760 | $28,000 | 252,551 | 77 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $34,328 | $27,000 | 311,404 | 129 |
| 20 | Wichita, KS | $32,650 | $25,000 | 389,902 | 41 |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $37,003 | $29,000 | 302,398 | 87 |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $34,773 | $27,000 | 303,625 | 69 |
| 23 | Tulsa, OK | $28,443 | $22,000 | 403,090 | 80 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $34,877 | $28,000 | 639,863 | 189 |
| 25 | El Paso, TX | $29,472 | $23,000 | 683,080 | 43 |
| 26 | Colorado Springs, CO | $32,871 | $26,000 | 465,101 | 110 |
| 27 | Gilbert, AZ | $31,996 | $25,000 | 237,133 | 12 |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $32,597 | $26,000 | 672,795 | 49 |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $34,610 | $27,000 | 522,053 | 55 |
| 30 | Mesa, AZ | $32,013 | $25,000 | 484,587 | 21 |
| 31 | Glendale, AZ | $32,134 | $25,000 | 245,895 | 11 |
| 32 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,975 | $27,000 | 1,567,872 | 38 |
| 33 | Garland, TX | $28,632 | $22,000 | 234,943 | 14 |
| 34 | Arlington, TX | $28,654 | $22,000 | 392,772 | 34 |
| 35 | Nashville, TN | $30,440 | $24,000 | 660,388 | 100 |
| 36 | Fort Worth, TX | $28,684 | $22,000 | 854,113 | 91 |
| 37 | Brookhaven, NY | $32,280 | $25,000 | 486,040 | 2 |
| 38 | Stockton, CA | $34,719 | $27,000 | 307,072 | 21 |
| 39 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,124 | $25,000 | 1,615,017 | 190 |
| 40 | Memphis, TN | $30,210 | $23,000 | 652,717 | 48 |
| 41 | Santa Ana, CA | $34,037 | $27,000 | 334,217 | 43 |
| 42 | Aurora, CO | $32,948 | $26,000 | 361,710 | 43 |
| 43 | Lincoln, NE | $31,613 | $25,000 | 280,364 | 25 |
| 44 | Denver, CO | $32,957 | $26,000 | 693,060 | 215 |
| 45 | Las Vegas, NV | $33,856 | $26,000 | 632,912 | 16 |
| 46 | Chicago, IL | $33,799 | $26,000 | 2,704,958 | 137 |
| 47 | Anaheim, CA | $34,060 | $27,000 | 351,043 | 31 |
| 48 | Chandler, AZ | $32,012 | $25,000 | 247,477 | 23 |
| 49 | Riverside, CA | $34,003 | $27,000 | 324,722 | 36 |
| 50 | Charlotte, NC | $29,881 | $23,000 | 842,051 | 153 |
Highest paying cities for machine operators
| Rank | City | Avg. machine operator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $37,003 |
| 2 | Green Bay, WI | $36,213 |
| 3 | Kent, WA | $35,702 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $35,220 |
| 5 | Allentown, PA | $35,165 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $34,877 |
| 7 | Fargo, ND | $34,839 |
| 8 | Richmond, CA | $34,803 |
| 9 | Florence, KY | $34,550 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $34,471 |
| 11 | Fort Wayne, IN | $34,177 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $34,131 |
| 13 | Elgin, IL | $33,845 |
| 14 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $33,362 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,040 |
| 16 | Kansas City, KS | $32,996 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $32,957 |
| 18 | Grand Rapids, MI | $32,715 |
| 19 | Manchester, NH | $32,563 |
| 20 | Lancaster, NY | $32,562 |
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Updated January 8, 2025