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Best states for a machine set-up
Quoted expert
Miles Free
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to machine set-up jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for machine set-ups. We found that Minnesota is the best state in the nation for machine set-ups, and people in Farmington earn the most in the field.
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 set-ups.We found that Minnesota is the best state for machine set-up jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for machine set-ups in 2026
1. Minnesota
Total machine set-up jobs: 344 Average annual salary: $42,236 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
2. New Hampshire
Total machine set-up jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $38,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 2.11
3. Indiana
Total machine set-up jobs: 362 Average annual salary: $38,170 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.77
4. Missouri
Total machine set-up jobs: 185 Average annual salary: $41,811 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
5. Pennsylvania
Total machine set-up jobs: 445 Average annual salary: $38,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
6. Massachusetts
Total machine set-up jobs: 286 Average annual salary: $40,026 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1
7. Vermont
Total machine set-up jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $38,901 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
8. New Mexico
Total machine set-up jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $42,397 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 0.13
9. Iowa
Total machine set-up jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $35,787 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
10. Maine
Total machine set-up jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $37,142 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
Machine set-up jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a machine set-up
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a machine set-up
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $42,236 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 344 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $38,323 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 115 |
| 3 | Indiana | $38,170 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 362 |
| 4 | Missouri | $41,811 | $32,000 | 6,113,532 | 185 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $38,108 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 445 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $40,026 | $31,000 | 6,859,819 | 286 |
| 7 | Vermont | $38,901 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 27 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $42,397 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 8 |
| 9 | Iowa | $35,787 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 165 |
| 10 | Maine | $37,142 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 47 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $40,719 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 6 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $41,539 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 127 |
| 13 | Washington | $39,615 | $30,000 | 7,405,743 | 127 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $36,603 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 150 |
| 15 | Delaware | $38,344 | $28,000 | 961,939 | 24 |
| 16 | Oregon | $36,610 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 136 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $35,724 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 40 |
| 18 | Nevada | $37,115 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 32 |
| 19 | California | $39,535 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 576 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $35,832 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 11 |
| 21 | Michigan | $33,442 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 283 |
| 22 | Ohio | $32,457 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 553 |
| 23 | Kansas | $32,990 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 124 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $32,413 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 43 |
| 25 | Alabama | $33,136 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 117 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $32,177 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 502 |
| 27 | Colorado | $35,806 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 104 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $31,407 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 271 |
| 29 | New York | $36,480 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 244 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $32,643 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 67 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $32,262 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 81 |
| 32 | Utah | $32,520 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 110 |
| 33 | Texas | $33,591 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 383 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $32,889 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 62 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $31,490 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 79 |
| 36 | Virginia | $33,942 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 179 |
| 37 | Florida | $32,200 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 355 |
| 38 | Maryland | $35,493 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 98 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $29,611 | $23,000 | 4,454,189 | 174 |
| 40 | Georgia | $30,580 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 463 |
| 41 | Alaska | $33,306 | $27,000 | 739,795 | 14 |
| 42 | Montana | $32,135 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 20 |
| 43 | Illinois | $30,660 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 512 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $34,173 | $25,000 | 693,972 | 7 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $30,237 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 32 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $29,787 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 173 |
| 47 | Idaho | $31,769 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 28 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $29,081 | $22,000 | 10,273,419 | 410 |
| 49 | Arizona | $30,305 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 153 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $32,114 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 1 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $29,172 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 50 |
Highest paying states for machine set-ups
| Rank | State | Avg. Machine Set-Up Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $42,236 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $38,323 |
| 3 | Indiana | $38,170 |
| 4 | Missouri | $41,811 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $38,108 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $40,026 |
| 7 | Vermont | $38,901 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $42,397 |
| 9 | Iowa | $35,787 |
| 10 | Maine | $37,142 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $40,719 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $41,539 |
| 13 | Washington | $39,615 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $36,603 |
| 15 | Delaware | $38,344 |
| 16 | Oregon | $36,610 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $35,724 |
| 18 | Nevada | $37,115 |
| 19 | California | $39,535 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $35,832 |
| 21 | Michigan | $33,442 |
| 22 | Ohio | $32,457 |
| 23 | Kansas | $32,990 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $32,413 |
| 25 | Alabama | $33,136 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $32,177 |
| 27 | Colorado | $35,806 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $31,407 |
| 29 | New York | $36,480 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $32,643 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $32,262 |
| 32 | Utah | $32,520 |
| 33 | Texas | $33,591 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $32,889 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $31,490 |
| 36 | Virginia | $33,942 |
| 37 | Florida | $32,200 |
| 38 | Maryland | $35,493 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $29,611 |
| 40 | Georgia | $30,580 |
| 41 | Alaska | $33,306 |
| 42 | Montana | $32,135 |
| 43 | Illinois | $30,660 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $34,173 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $30,237 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $29,787 |
| 47 | Idaho | $31,769 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $29,081 |
| 49 | Arizona | $30,305 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $32,114 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $29,172 |
Expert opinions on the best states for machine set-ups
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for machine set-ups to find work opportunities?
Miles Free
Director, Industry Affairs, Precision Machined Products Association
Our shops were hiring, even during the pandemic. (Some of us needed extra personnel as we were suddenly making ventilators.) 80% of our PMPA shops today say that they are looking for talent. Small family-owned metalworking shops are particularly useful places to make a career. We pay well, we are putting in the latest technology, our work is essential (in September, our sales were up 8.4%, while manufacturing, in general, was still down 0.3 %).
Our shops help with tuition and training expenses. Our wages are U.S. Household Median after a few years on the job. The best place to find a job in our field is to enroll in a local community college CNC machining program. My experience has been that an employer will likely be trying to hire you before completing your first semester.
Machine set-up best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025