Best states for a paper machine operator

Q: What is the best state for paper machine operators?

The best state to be a paper machine operator is Wisconsin based on paper machine operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for paper machine operators?

The highest paying state for paper machine operators is Alabama based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for paper machine operators?

The worst state for paper machine operators is Florida, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Do you want to become a paper machine operator at International Paper, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for paper machine operators that you can check out, before you begin your journey. In fact, our research shows that Wisconsin is the best state for paper machine operators in America. The best city in America for paper machine operators with the highest pay is Neenah, WI.

Wisconsin is the best state for jobs for paper machine operators, and Florida is the worst. The most common pay in Wisconsin is $44,010, while the median pay in Florida is $28,378.Wisconsin is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for paper machine operators.

10 best states for paper machine operators in 2025

1. Wisconsin
Total paper machine operator jobs: 455
Average annual salary: $44,010
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
2.22
Paper machine operator jobs in Wisconsin
2. Alaska
Total paper machine operator jobs: 107
Average annual salary: $43,962
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
3.46
Paper machine operator jobs in Alaska
3. Minnesota
Total paper machine operator jobs: 346
Average annual salary: $42,421
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
1.41
Paper machine operator jobs in Minnesota
4. Hawaii
Total paper machine operator jobs: 98
Average annual salary: $43,668
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
3.16
Paper machine operator jobs in Hawaii
5. South Dakota
Total paper machine operator jobs: 36
Average annual salary: $38,339
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Paper machine operator jobs in South Dakota
6. Maine
Total paper machine operator jobs: 31
Average annual salary: $40,981
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
0.63
Paper machine operator jobs in Maine
7. Washington
Total paper machine operator jobs: 107
Average annual salary: $44,826
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.4
Paper machine operator jobs in Washington
8. Ohio
Total paper machine operator jobs: 577
Average annual salary: $35,137
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.52
Paper machine operator jobs in Ohio
9. North Dakota
Total paper machine operator jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $41,679
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
0.26
Paper machine operator jobs in North Dakota
10. Idaho
Total paper machine operator jobs: 18
Average annual salary: $42,696
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.3
Paper machine operator jobs in Idaho

Paper machine operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a paper machine operator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a paper machine operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Wisconsin	$44,010	$33,000	5,795,483	455
2	Alaska	$43,962	$38,000	739,795	107
3	Minnesota	$42,421	$33,000	5,576,606	346
4	Hawaii	$43,668	$37,000	1,427,538	98
5	South Dakota	$38,339	$29,000	869,666	36
6	Maine	$40,981	$32,000	1,335,907	31
7	Washington	$44,826	$35,000	7,405,743	107
8	Ohio	$35,137	$26,000	11,658,609	577
9	North Dakota	$41,679	$33,000	755,393	9
10	Idaho	$42,696	$32,000	1,716,943	18
11	Indiana	$35,820	$26,000	6,666,818	325
12	California	$45,576	$34,000	39,536,653	469
13	New Jersey	$36,891	$27,000	9,005,644	906
14	Oregon	$40,150	$31,000	4,142,776	107
15	Michigan	$36,580	$27,000	9,962,311	279
16	Utah	$37,185	$28,000	3,101,833	106
17	Pennsylvania	$35,270	$26,000	12,805,537	487
18	Montana	$41,160	$32,000	1,050,493	11
19	Wyoming	$39,160	$29,000	579,315	4
20	Massachusetts	$34,656	$26,000	6,859,819	1,237
21	Iowa	$34,723	$26,000	3,145,711	146
22	Arizona	$36,007	$27,000	7,016,270	121
23	New York	$37,224	$28,000	19,849,399	250
24	Rhode Island	$31,687	$24,000	1,059,639	156
25	North Carolina	$32,217	$24,000	10,273,419	459
26	Nebraska	$34,171	$25,000	1,920,076	61
27	New Hampshire	$31,910	$25,000	1,342,795	155
28	Kentucky	$31,303	$23,000	4,454,189	158
29	Kansas	$31,199	$23,000	2,913,123	107
30	West Virginia	$33,420	$25,000	1,815,857	13
31	Colorado	$34,601	$26,000	5,607,154	82
32	Missouri	$31,466	$23,000	6,113,532	193
33	Illinois	$31,387	$23,000	12,802,023	482
34	Maryland	$35,099	$26,000	6,052,177	91
35	Connecticut	$31,488	$24,000	3,588,184	115
36	Vermont	$32,096	$25,000	623,657	19
37	Nevada	$31,334	$23,000	2,998,039	34
38	Tennessee	$28,612	$21,000	6,715,984	295
39	New Mexico	$32,035	$24,000	2,088,070	2
40	South Carolina	$29,771	$22,000	5,024,369	166
41	Virginia	$32,618	$24,000	8,470,020	142
42	Mississippi	$29,068	$22,000	2,984,100	65
43	District of Columbia	$28,302	$21,000	693,972	127
44	Oklahoma	$29,238	$22,000	3,930,864	71
45	Arkansas	$28,666	$21,000	3,004,279	76
46	Georgia	$27,973	$21,000	10,429,379	424
47	Louisiana	$29,465	$22,000	4,684,333	51
48	Delaware	$29,436	$22,000	961,939	22
49	Alabama	$27,825	$21,000	4,874,747	97
50	Texas	$28,078	$21,000	28,304,596	383
51	Florida	$28,378	$21,000	20,984,400	303

Highest paying states for paper machine operators

Rank	State	Avg. Paper Machine Operator Salary
1	Wisconsin	$44,010
2	Alaska	$43,962
3	Minnesota	$42,421
4	Hawaii	$43,668
5	South Dakota	$38,339
6	Maine	$40,981
7	Washington	$44,826
8	Ohio	$35,137
9	North Dakota	$41,679
10	Idaho	$42,696
11	Indiana	$35,820
12	California	$45,576
13	New Jersey	$36,891
14	Oregon	$40,150
15	Michigan	$36,580
16	Utah	$37,185
17	Pennsylvania	$35,270
18	Montana	$41,160
19	Wyoming	$39,160
20	Massachusetts	$34,656
21	Iowa	$34,723
22	Arizona	$36,007
23	New York	$37,224
24	Rhode Island	$31,687
25	North Carolina	$32,217
26	Nebraska	$34,171
27	New Hampshire	$31,910
28	Kentucky	$31,303
29	Kansas	$31,199
30	West Virginia	$33,420
31	Colorado	$34,601
32	Missouri	$31,466
33	Illinois	$31,387
34	Maryland	$35,099
35	Connecticut	$31,488
36	Vermont	$32,096
37	Nevada	$31,334
38	Tennessee	$28,612
39	New Mexico	$32,035
40	South Carolina	$29,771
41	Virginia	$32,618
42	Mississippi	$29,068
43	District of Columbia	$28,302
44	Oklahoma	$29,238
45	Arkansas	$28,666
46	Georgia	$27,973
47	Louisiana	$29,465
48	Delaware	$29,436
49	Alabama	$27,825
50	Texas	$28,078
51	Florida	$28,378

Paper machine operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for paper machine operators?

What is the highest paying state for paper machine operators?

What is the worst state for paper machine operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

Search for paper machine operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total paper machine operator jobs:	455
Average annual salary:	$44,010
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$33,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$57,000
Location Quotient:	2.22

Best states for a paper machine operator

10 best states for paper machine operators in 2025

1. Wisconsin

2. Alaska

3. Minnesota

4. Hawaii

5. South Dakota

6. Maine

7. Washington

8. Ohio

9. North Dakota

10. Idaho