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Mill operator salary
Average mill operator salary
$39,045
Average Mill Operator Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a mill operator stands at $39,045 per year, or approximately $19 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, mill operators in manufacturing sectors may earn more than those in smaller facilities.
Salary by Experience Level
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level mill operators typically earn closer to the lower end of the scale, while those with several years of experience can command higher wages. It's common for seasoned professionals to earn upwards of $45,000 annually, particularly in regions with higher demand for skilled labor.
Where Can Mill Operators Earn More?
States such as California, Texas, and Florida are known for offering higher salaries for mill operators, owing to the concentration of manufacturing jobs and competitive labor markets. Additionally, urban areas often provide more opportunities and potentially higher pay rates compared to rural locations.
Conclusion
For those considering a career as a mill operator, understanding these salary dynamics is essential. By leveraging this information, prospective employees can make informed decisions about their career paths.
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Where can a Mill Operator earn more?
Mill operator salaries by experience level
Mill operator salary estimates from across the web
Average mill operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for mill operators are Alaska, Hawaii, and California. The lowest average mill operator salary states are Arkansas, Mississippi, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for mill operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $47,336 | $22.76 |
| 2 | Utah | $44,301 | $21.30 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $42,585 | $20.47 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $40,403 | $19.42 |
| 6 | Indiana | $40,526 | $19.48 |
| 7 | Nevada | $42,723 | $20.54 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $40,682 | $19.56 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $43,381 | $20.86 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $41,176 | $19.80 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $47,015 | $22.60 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $45,733 | $21.99 |
| 14 | Ohio | $40,062 | $19.26 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $42,297 | $20.34 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $41,564 | $19.98 |
| 17 | Colorado | $44,936 | $21.60 |
| 18 | California | $44,963 | $21.62 |
| 19 | Arizona | $41,846 | $20.12 |
| 20 | Kansas | $39,899 | $19.18 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $41,399 | $19.90 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $40,341 | $19.39 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $40,540 | $19.49 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $38,048 | $18.29 |
| 25 | Oregon | $41,610 | $20.00 |
| 26 | Delaware | $41,299 | $19.86 |
| 27 | Maine | $39,725 | $19.10 |
| 28 | Michigan | $39,180 | $18.84 |
| 29 | Iowa | $38,895 | $18.70 |
| 30 | New York | $42,246 | $20.31 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $40,600 | $19.52 |
| 33 | Washington | $41,315 | $19.86 |
| 34 | Illinois | $39,345 | $18.92 |
| 35 | Virginia | $41,075 | $19.75 |
| 36 | Maryland | $42,020 | $20.20 |
| 37 | Alabama | $38,314 | $18.42 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| 39 | Georgia | $37,872 | $18.21 |
| 40 | Missouri | $38,152 | $18.34 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $37,302 | $17.93 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $37,573 | $18.06 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $35,814 | $17.22 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $36,585 | $17.59 |
| 45 | Florida | $38,260 | $18.39 |
| 46 | Texas | $37,458 | $18.01 |
| 47 | Connecticut | $38,351 | $18.44 |
| 48 | Montana | $38,286 | $18.41 |
| 49 | Vermont | $35,156 | $16.90 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $34,958 | $16.81 |
| 51 | Idaho | $36,074 | $17.34 |
Highest paying cities for mill operators
The highest-paying cities for mill operators are San Jose, CA, Pueblo, CO, and Bridgewater, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $46,269 | $22.24 |
| 2 | Pueblo, CO | $44,861 | $21.57 |
| 3 | Bridgewater, NJ | $42,389 | $20.38 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | $42,245 | $20.31 |
| 5 | Gilbert, AZ | $41,788 | $20.09 |
| 6 | Vancouver, WA | $41,641 | $20.02 |
| 7 | Thomasville, NC | $41,125 | $19.77 |
| 8 | Allentown, PA | $40,764 | $19.60 |
| 9 | De Pere, WI | $40,586 | $19.51 |
| 10 | Evansville, IN | $39,945 | $19.20 |
| 11 | Lima, OH | $39,902 | $19.18 |
| 12 | Overland Park, KS | $39,836 | $19.15 |
| 13 | Morristown, TN | $37,909 | $18.23 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $37,341 | $17.95 |
| 15 | Jonesboro, AR | $37,233 | $17.90 |
| 16 | Twin Falls, ID | $36,057 | $17.34 |
Mill operator salary details
A mill operator's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $48,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a mill operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $39,045 | $3,254 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying mill operator jobs
The highest paying types of mill operators are terminal operator, utility operator, and grinder operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Furnace Operator | $35,972 | $2,998 | $17.29 | 58,975 |
| Production Operator | $35,185 | $2,932 | $16.92 | 117,254 |
| Loader Operator | $36,987 | $3,082 | $17.78 | 61,980 |
| Extrusion Operator | $36,571 | $3,048 | $17.58 | 58,622 |
| Forklift Operator | $34,213 | $2,851 | $16.45 | 213,020 |
Top companies hiring mill operators now:
Which companies pay mill operators the most?
Mill operator salaries at Freeport-McMoRan and MDU Resources are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average mill operator salary at companies like Boeing and ADM are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freeport-McMoRan | $51,538 | $24.78 |
| 2 | MDU Resources | $48,836 | $23.48 |
| 3 | Boeing | $48,721 | $23.42 |
| 4 | ADM | $45,478 | $21.86 |
| 5 | Novelis | $45,397 | $21.83 |
| 6 | Mars | $45,086 | $21.68 |
| 7 | Masco | $44,772 | $21.52 |
| 8 | North American Stainless | $44,602 | $21.44 |
| 9 | Anheuser-Busch | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| 10 | Martin Marietta | $43,976 | $21.14 |
| 11 | Coeur Mining | $43,899 | $21.11 |
| 12 | Valmont Industries | $43,712 | $21.02 |
| 13 | Infinity | $43,600 | $20.96 |
| 14 | Bunge | $43,374 | $20.85 |
| 15 | Andersen | $43,363 | $20.85 |
| 16 | Behr Holdings Corporation | $43,039 | $20.69 |
| 17 | Brunswick | $43,017 | $20.68 |
| 18 | BrassCraft | $42,672 | $20.52 |
| 19 | WestRock | $42,607 | $20.48 |
| 20 | R+L Carriers | $42,585 | $20.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Mill operator salary trends
The average mill operator salary has risen by $7,848 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average mill operator earned $31,197 annually, but today, they earn $39,045 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for mill operators over the last decade.
Compare mill operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average mill operator salary over time
Compare mill operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Mill operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,000 | $18.77 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $37,600 | $18.09 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $36,100 | $17.37 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $35,000 | $16.81 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $33,700 | $16.22 | +1.1% |
Recently added mill operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nazdar | Mill Operator | Lenexa, KS | 06/28/2025 | $42,262 |
| Potential With Quanex | Mill Operator-1St. Shift | Rice Lake, WI | 06/28/2025 | $42,784 |
| Adams Land & Cattle | Mill Operator Bonus | Broken Bow, NE | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Trinidad Benham | Mill Operator | Hope, ND | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Adams Land and Cattle | Mill Operator Bonus | Broken Bow, NE | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. | Mill Operator Trainee | Boone, CO | 06/25/2025 | $44,871 |
| Quanex Building Products Corporation | Mill Operator-1St. Shift | Rice Lake, WI | 06/25/2025 | $42,784 |
| Associated Feed & Supply | Mill Operator (Hand Adds Operator) | Turlock, CA | 06/25/2025 | $45,914 |
| Nucor | Mill Operator | Los Angeles, CA | 06/24/2025 | $41,406 |
| Sentech Services | Lead Steel Mill Operator | Detroit, MI | 06/23/2025 | $39,653 |
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