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 America, a large number of them are in the South. Wisconsin is the best state in the country for machine operator jobs, and Wisconsin has the second-highest median salary in the country.
We figured that the best places for machine operator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities. Our research put Minnesota at no. 1 on the list of best paying states for machine operators. Wisconsin, Washington, and Idaho also ranked high on our list.

Here Are the Best States for Machine Operators In 2023:

  1. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Wisconsin

  2. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Minnesota

  3. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Pennsylvania

  4. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Rhode Island

  5. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Indiana

  6. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Kentucky

  7. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Ohio

  8. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Maine

  9. 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
    Machine Operator Jobs in Idaho

  10. 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 Jobs in Iowa

  11. Machine Operator JobsNear Ashburn, VA

    11. North Dakota

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		42
    Average Annual Salary:$34,740
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$28,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.56
    Machine Operator Jobs in North Dakota

  12. 12. Missouri

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		457
    Average Annual Salary:$34,312
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$27,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.97
    Machine Operator Jobs in Missouri

  13. 13. Oregon

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		277
    Average Annual Salary:$34,859
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$28,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.83
    Machine Operator Jobs in Oregon

  14. 14. Illinois

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		1,258
    Average Annual Salary:$33,711
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.31
    Machine Operator Jobs in Illinois

  15. 15. Washington

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		327
    Average Annual Salary:$35,676
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$28,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.55
    Machine Operator Jobs in Washington

  16. 16. Nevada

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		110
    Average Annual Salary:$33,913
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$27,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.65
    Machine Operator Jobs in Nevada

  17. 17. Utah

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		291
    Average Annual Salary:$33,090
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.13
    Machine Operator Jobs in Utah

  18. 18. Kansas

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		248
    Average Annual Salary:$32,830
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.02
    Machine Operator Jobs in Kansas

  19. 19. Michigan

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		679
    Average Annual Salary:$32,615
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.08
    Machine Operator Jobs in Michigan

  20. 20. New Hampshire

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		216
    Average Annual Salary:$32,539
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.53
    Machine Operator Jobs in New Hampshire

  21. Machine Operator Jobs In The Top 10 States

    Job Openings

    Find the best Machine Operator job for you

    21. Massachusetts

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		1,287
    Average Annual Salary:$32,778
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.73
    Machine Operator Jobs in Massachusetts

  22. 22. Maryland

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		965
    Average Annual Salary:$32,969
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.88
    Machine Operator Jobs in Maryland

  23. 23. New Jersey

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		860
    Average Annual Salary:$33,618
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.34
    Machine Operator Jobs in New Jersey

  24. 24. California

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		1,680
    Average Annual Salary:$34,272
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$27,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.71
    Machine Operator Jobs in California

  25. 25. Delaware

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		48
    Average Annual Salary:$33,924
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.47
    Machine Operator Jobs in Delaware

  26. 26. Vermont

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		61
    Average Annual Salary:$32,409
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.98
    Machine Operator Jobs in Vermont

  27. 27. Nebraska

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		215
    Average Annual Salary:$31,668
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$25,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.2
    Machine Operator Jobs in Nebraska

  28. 28. Alaska

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		105
    Average Annual Salary:$30,862
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.56
    Machine Operator Jobs in Alaska

  29. 29. South Dakota

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		65
    Average Annual Salary:$32,231
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$25,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.75
    Machine Operator Jobs in South Dakota

  30. 30. District of Columbia

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		110
    Average Annual Salary:$33,563
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.81
    Machine Operator Jobs in District of Columbia

  31. 31. Hawaii

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		93
    Average Annual Salary:$32,720
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$27,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.37
    Machine Operator Jobs in Hawaii

  32. 32. Colorado

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		267
    Average Annual Salary:$32,967
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$26,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.56
    Machine Operator Jobs in Colorado

  33. 33. Tennessee

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		627
    Average Annual Salary:$30,308
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$23,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.32
    Machine Operator Jobs in Tennessee

  34. 34. West Virginia

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		48
    Average Annual Salary:$32,211
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$25,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.39
    Machine Operator Jobs in West Virginia

  35. 35. South Carolina

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		319
    Average Annual Salary:$31,565
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$24,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.88
    Machine Operator Jobs in South Carolina

  36. 36. Arizona

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		317
    Average Annual Salary:$32,045
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$25,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.67
    Machine Operator Jobs in Arizona

  37. 37. Arkansas

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		169
    Average Annual Salary:$30,358
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$24,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.8
    Machine Operator Jobs in Arkansas

  38. 38. Georgia

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		949
    Average Annual Salary:$30,322
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$23,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.14
    Machine Operator Jobs in Georgia

  39. 39. North Carolina

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		831
    Average Annual Salary:$30,025
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$23,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.07
    Machine Operator Jobs in North Carolina

  40. 40. Connecticut

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		248
    Average Annual Salary:$32,154
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$25,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$39,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.93
    Machine Operator Jobs in Connecticut

  41. 41. New York

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		533
    Average Annual Salary:$32,241
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$25,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.51
    Machine Operator Jobs in New York

  42. 42. Mississippi

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		139
    Average Annual Salary:$28,776
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$22,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.81
    Machine Operator Jobs in Mississippi

  43. 43. Alabama

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		264
    Average Annual Salary:$28,264
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$22,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.74
    Machine Operator Jobs in Alabama

  44. 44. Virginia

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		382
    Average Annual Salary:$30,693
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$24,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.5
    Machine Operator Jobs in Virginia

  45. 45. Texas

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		989
    Average Annual Salary:$28,517
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$22,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.6
    Machine Operator Jobs in Texas

  46. 46. Montana

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		34
    Average Annual Salary:$29,626
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$23,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$36,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.36
    Machine Operator Jobs in Montana

  47. 47. Oklahoma

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		98
    Average Annual Salary:$28,380
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$22,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.39
    Machine Operator Jobs in Oklahoma

  48. 48. Florida

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		879
    Average Annual Salary:$27,421
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$21,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.7
    Machine Operator Jobs in Florida

  49. 49. New Mexico

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		30
    Average Annual Salary:$28,108
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$22,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$35,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.19
    Machine Operator Jobs in New Mexico

  50. 50. Louisiana

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		119
    Average Annual Salary:$27,029
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$21,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$34,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.46
    Machine Operator Jobs in Louisiana

  51. 51. Wyoming

    Total Machine Operator Jobs:
    		8
    Average Annual Salary:$20,035
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$16,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$24,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.17
    Machine Operator Jobs in Wyoming

How We Determined 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

RankStateAverage SalaryLowest 10% EarnPopulationJob Count
1Wisconsin$35,869$28,0005,795,4831,010
2Minnesota$36,966$29,0005,576,606801
3Pennsylvania$34,945$27,00012,805,5371,122
4Rhode Island$34,607$28,0001,059,639152
5Indiana$33,724$26,0006,666,818977
6Kentucky$34,074$26,0004,454,189407
7Ohio$33,641$26,00011,658,6091,272
8Maine$35,169$28,0001,335,907117
9Idaho$35,212$28,0001,716,943114
10Iowa$33,229$26,0003,145,711453
11North Dakota$34,740$28,000755,39342
12Missouri$34,312$27,0006,113,532457
13Oregon$34,859$28,0004,142,776277
14Illinois$33,711$26,00012,802,0231,258
15Washington$35,676$28,0007,405,743327
16Nevada$33,913$27,0002,998,039110
17Utah$33,090$26,0003,101,833291
18Kansas$32,830$26,0002,913,123248
19Michigan$32,615$26,0009,962,311679
20New Hampshire$32,539$26,0001,342,795216
21Massachusetts$32,778$26,0006,859,8191,287
22Maryland$32,969$26,0006,052,177965
23New Jersey$33,618$26,0009,005,644860
24California$34,272$27,00039,536,6531,680
25Delaware$33,924$26,000961,93948
26Vermont$32,409$26,000623,65761
27Nebraska$31,668$25,0001,920,076215
28Alaska$30,862$26,000739,795105
29South Dakota$32,231$25,000869,66665
30District of Columbia$33,563$26,000693,972110
31Hawaii$32,720$27,0001,427,53893
32Colorado$32,967$26,0005,607,154267
33Tennessee$30,308$23,0006,715,984627
34West Virginia$32,211$25,0001,815,85748
35South Carolina$31,565$24,0005,024,369319
36Arizona$32,045$25,0007,016,270317
37Arkansas$30,358$24,0003,004,279169
38Georgia$30,322$23,00010,429,379949
39North Carolina$30,025$23,00010,273,419831
40Connecticut$32,154$25,0003,588,184248
41New York$32,241$25,00019,849,399533
42Mississippi$28,776$22,0002,984,100139
43Alabama$28,264$22,0004,874,747264
44Virginia$30,693$24,0008,470,020382
45Texas$28,517$22,00028,304,596989
46Montana$29,626$23,0001,050,49334
47Oklahoma$28,380$22,0003,930,86498
48Florida$27,421$21,00020,984,400879
49New Mexico$28,108$22,0002,088,07030
50Louisiana$27,029$21,0004,684,333119
51Wyoming$20,035$16,000579,3158

Highest paying states for Machine Operators

RankStateAvg. Machine Operator Salary
1Wisconsin$35,869
2Minnesota$36,966
3Pennsylvania$34,945
4Rhode Island$34,607
5Indiana$33,724
6Kentucky$34,074
7Ohio$33,641
8Maine$35,169
9Idaho$35,212
10Iowa$33,229
11North Dakota$34,740
12Missouri$34,312
13Oregon$34,859
14Illinois$33,711
15Washington$35,676
16Nevada$33,913
17Utah$33,090
18Kansas$32,830
19Michigan$32,615
20New Hampshire$32,539
21Massachusetts$32,778
22Maryland$32,969
23New Jersey$33,618
24California$34,272
25Delaware$33,924
26Vermont$32,409
27Nebraska$31,668
28Alaska$30,862
29South Dakota$32,231
30District of Columbia$33,563
31Hawaii$32,720
32Colorado$32,967
33Tennessee$30,308
34West Virginia$32,211
35South Carolina$31,565
36Arizona$32,045
37Arkansas$30,358
38Georgia$30,322
39North Carolina$30,025
40Connecticut$32,154
41New York$32,241
42Mississippi$28,776
43Alabama$28,264
44Virginia$30,693
45Texas$28,517
46Montana$29,626
47Oklahoma$28,380
48Florida$27,421
49New Mexico$28,108
50Louisiana$27,029
51Wyoming$20,035
Show More
Job type you want
Full Time
Part Time
Internship
Temporary

Best States For Related Jobs

Machine Operator Related Careers

Machine Operator Related Jobs

Machine Operator Jobs By Location

Updated April 6, 2021