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Best states for a machine operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like machine operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for machine operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Although there are abundant machine operator jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Wisconsin is the best state in the country for machine operator jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for machine operators.We found that the South is best for machine operators, and the Midwest is the worst. Minneapolis, MN is the best city in the country for machine operator jobs, where as Wisconsin is the best state in the country.
10 best states for machine operators in 2025
1. Wisconsin
Total machine operator jobs: 1,010 Average annual salary: $35,869 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 2.26
2. Minnesota
Total machine operator jobs: 801 Average annual salary: $36,966 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
3. Pennsylvania
Total machine operator jobs: 1,122 Average annual salary: $34,945 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
4. Rhode Island
Total machine operator jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $34,607 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
5. Indiana
Total machine operator jobs: 977 Average annual salary: $33,724 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
6. Kentucky
Total machine operator jobs: 407 Average annual salary: $34,074 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
7. Ohio
Total machine operator jobs: 1,272 Average annual salary: $33,641 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
8. Maine
Total machine operator jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $35,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
9. Idaho
Total machine operator jobs: 114 Average annual salary: $35,212 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
10. Iowa
Total machine operator jobs: 453 Average annual salary: $33,229 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
Machine operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a machine operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a machine operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $35,869 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,010 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $36,966 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 801 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $34,945 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,122 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $34,607 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 152 |
| 5 | Indiana | $33,724 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 977 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $34,074 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 407 |
| 7 | Ohio | $33,641 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,272 |
| 8 | Maine | $35,169 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 117 |
| 9 | Idaho | $35,212 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 114 |
| 10 | Iowa | $33,229 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 453 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $34,740 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 42 |
| 12 | Missouri | $34,312 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 457 |
| 13 | Oregon | $34,859 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 277 |
| 14 | Illinois | $33,711 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,258 |
| 15 | Washington | $35,676 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 327 |
| 16 | Nevada | $33,913 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 110 |
| 17 | Utah | $33,090 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 291 |
| 18 | Kansas | $32,830 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 248 |
| 19 | Michigan | $32,615 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 679 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $32,539 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 216 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $32,778 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,287 |
| 22 | Maryland | $32,969 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 965 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $33,618 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 860 |
| 24 | California | $34,272 | $27,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,680 |
| 25 | Delaware | $33,924 | $26,000 | 961,939 | 48 |
| 26 | Vermont | $32,409 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 61 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $31,668 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 215 |
| 28 | Alaska | $30,862 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 105 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $32,231 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 65 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $33,563 | $26,000 | 693,972 | 110 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $32,720 | $27,000 | 1,427,538 | 93 |
| 32 | Colorado | $32,967 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 267 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $30,308 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 627 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $32,211 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 48 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $31,565 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 319 |
| 36 | Arizona | $32,045 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 317 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $30,358 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 169 |
| 38 | Georgia | $30,322 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 949 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $30,025 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 831 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $32,154 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 248 |
| 41 | New York | $32,241 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 533 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $28,776 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 139 |
| 43 | Alabama | $28,264 | $22,000 | 4,874,747 | 264 |
| 44 | Virginia | $30,693 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 382 |
| 45 | Texas | $28,517 | $22,000 | 28,304,596 | 989 |
| 46 | Montana | $29,626 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 34 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $28,380 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 98 |
| 48 | Florida | $27,421 | $21,000 | 20,984,400 | 879 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $28,108 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 30 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $27,029 | $21,000 | 4,684,333 | 119 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $20,035 | $16,000 | 579,315 | 8 |
Highest paying states for machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Machine Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $35,869 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $36,966 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $34,945 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $34,607 |
| 5 | Indiana | $33,724 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $34,074 |
| 7 | Ohio | $33,641 |
| 8 | Maine | $35,169 |
| 9 | Idaho | $35,212 |
| 10 | Iowa | $33,229 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $34,740 |
| 12 | Missouri | $34,312 |
| 13 | Oregon | $34,859 |
| 14 | Illinois | $33,711 |
| 15 | Washington | $35,676 |
| 16 | Nevada | $33,913 |
| 17 | Utah | $33,090 |
| 18 | Kansas | $32,830 |
| 19 | Michigan | $32,615 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $32,539 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $32,778 |
| 22 | Maryland | $32,969 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $33,618 |
| 24 | California | $34,272 |
| 25 | Delaware | $33,924 |
| 26 | Vermont | $32,409 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $31,668 |
| 28 | Alaska | $30,862 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $32,231 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $33,563 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $32,720 |
| 32 | Colorado | $32,967 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $30,308 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $32,211 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $31,565 |
| 36 | Arizona | $32,045 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $30,358 |
| 38 | Georgia | $30,322 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $30,025 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $32,154 |
| 41 | New York | $32,241 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $28,776 |
| 43 | Alabama | $28,264 |
| 44 | Virginia | $30,693 |
| 45 | Texas | $28,517 |
| 46 | Montana | $29,626 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $28,380 |
| 48 | Florida | $27,421 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $28,108 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $27,029 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $20,035 |
Machine operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025