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Plant worker salary
Average plant worker salary
$15.24
Average Plant Worker Salary
The average salary for a Plant Worker is approximately $31,705 annually or $15 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level positions typically offer lower wages, while experienced workers can earn significantly more. For instance, those with 5-10 years in the field may see salaries rise to $35,000 or higher.
Highest Paying States
Some states, such as California and Texas, offer higher compensation for plant workers. Additionally, certain industries, like manufacturing and food processing, tend to pay above the national average. This makes geographical location and industry choice essential considerations for prospective plant workers.
Job Opportunities
Many companies actively seek plant workers, providing ample job opportunities across various sectors. Utilizing platforms like Zippia, job seekers can browse and apply for positions tailored to their skills and preferences.
Let Zippia find your next plant worker job
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Where can a Plant Worker earn more?
Plant worker salaries by experience level
Plant worker salary estimates from across the web
Average plant worker salary by state
The average plant worker salary in Alaska, Washington, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average plant worker salary states are Oklahoma, Arizona, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for plant workers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $43,029 | $20.69 |
| 2 | Utah | $35,808 | $17.22 |
| 3 | Oregon | $36,975 | $17.78 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $34,591 | $16.63 |
| 5 | California | $36,772 | $17.68 |
| 6 | Alaska | $45,449 | $21.85 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $38,809 | $18.66 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $35,252 | $16.95 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $35,063 | $16.86 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $35,341 | $16.99 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $31,853 | $15.31 |
| 12 | Nevada | $34,076 | $16.38 |
| 13 | Indiana | $31,888 | $15.33 |
| 14 | Illinois | $34,854 | $16.76 |
| 15 | Iowa | $31,873 | $15.32 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $39,882 | $19.17 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $29,881 | $14.37 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $32,995 | $15.86 |
| 19 | Michigan | $31,252 | $15.03 |
| 20 | New York | $35,024 | $16.84 |
| 21 | Vermont | $31,934 | $15.35 |
| 22 | Maine | $32,261 | $15.51 |
| 23 | Colorado | $31,931 | $15.35 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $35,793 | $17.21 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $29,674 | $14.27 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $27,919 | $13.42 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $28,836 | $13.86 |
| 28 | Maryland | $33,244 | $15.98 |
| 29 | Ohio | $29,440 | $14.15 |
| 30 | Missouri | $28,745 | $13.82 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $27,284 | $13.12 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $29,127 | $14.00 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $30,010 | $14.43 |
| 34 | Virginia | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| 35 | Idaho | $28,955 | $13.92 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| 37 | Kansas | $28,820 | $13.86 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $26,903 | $12.93 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $28,374 | $13.64 |
| 40 | Delaware | $29,359 | $14.11 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $27,756 | $13.34 |
| 42 | Montana | $29,566 | $14.21 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $26,044 | $12.52 |
| 44 | Texas | $27,321 | $13.14 |
| 45 | Georgia | $27,158 | $13.06 |
| 46 | Florida | $26,623 | $12.80 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $26,200 | $12.60 |
| 48 | Alabama | $25,696 | $12.35 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $22,911 | $11.01 |
| 50 | Arizona | $26,105 | $12.55 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $23,775 | $11.43 |
Highest paying cities for plant workers
The highest-paying cities for plant workers are Los Angeles, CA, Melrose Park, IL, and Dubuque, IA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,374 | $17.49 |
| 2 | Melrose Park, IL | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| 3 | Dubuque, IA | $32,231 | $15.50 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| 5 | Livonia, MI | $31,203 | $15.00 |
| 6 | Concord, NC | $29,052 | $13.97 |
| 7 | Olathe, KS | $28,900 | $13.89 |
| 8 | Paducah, KY | $27,825 | $13.38 |
| 9 | Gainesville, GA | $27,332 | $13.14 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $27,311 | $13.13 |
| 11 | Chattanooga, TN | $26,782 | $12.88 |
| 12 | Florence, AL | $25,922 | $12.46 |
| 13 | Marana, AZ | $25,862 | $12.43 |
Plant worker salary details
A plant worker's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a plant worker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,705 | $2,642 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying plant worker jobs
The highest paying types of plant workers are building engineer, maintenance engineer, and plant technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repair Technician | $41,643 | $3,470 | $20.02 | 162,051 |
| Handyman | $44,648 | $3,721 | $21.47 | 3,371 |
| Maintenance Technician | $43,293 | $3,608 | $20.81 | 178,450 |
| Maintenance Engineer | $47,133 | $3,928 | $22.66 | 97,957 |
| Maintenance Coordinator | $44,431 | $3,703 | $21.36 | 109,456 |
| Building Engineer | $76,446 | $6,370 | $36.75 | 13,440 |
Top companies hiring plant workers now:
Which companies pay plant workers the most?
Plant worker salaries at City of Austin and Silgan Containers are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average plant worker salary at companies like Hormel Foods and Texas are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Austin | $38,273 | $18.40 |
| 2 | Silgan Containers | $37,337 | $17.95 |
| 3 | Hormel Foods | $37,154 | $17.86 |
| 4 | Texas | $35,381 | $17.01 |
| 5 | Stericycle | $34,799 | $16.73 |
| 6 | Kindred Healthcare | $33,630 | $16.17 |
| 7 | Garden State Growers | $33,317 | $16.02 |
| 8 | Bozeman Health | $33,142 | $15.93 |
| 9 | BCforward | $32,617 | $15.68 |
| 10 | Elwood Staffing | $32,307 | $15.53 |
| 11 | Compass Group USA | $32,218 | $15.49 |
| 12 | Kelly Services | $31,604 | $15.19 |
| 13 | G-TECH | $31,375 | $15.08 |
| 14 | Lacosta Inc | $31,186 | $14.99 |
| 15 | IH Services | $31,162 | $14.98 |
| 16 | PeopleReady | $31,129 | $14.97 |
| 17 | Caliper Family of Companies | $31,124 | $14.96 |
| 18 | NORTH | $31,018 | $14.91 |
| 19 | Universal Health Services | $30,746 | $14.78 |
| 20 | NESCO | $30,662 | $14.74 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Plant worker salary trends
The average plant worker salary has risen by $4,517 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average plant worker earned $27,188 annually, but today, they earn $31,705 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for plant workers over the last decade.
Compare plant worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average plant worker salary over time
Compare plant worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Plant worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,700 | $15.24 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $30,300 | $14.58 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $29,700 | $14.29 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $29,200 | $14.06 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $28,700 | $13.78 | +0.8% |
Recently added plant worker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilgrim Dry Cleaners | Plant Worker/Backup Driver | Brooklyn Park, MN | 06/26/2025 | $33,392 |
| Peopleready | Cotton Seed Plant Worker | Lubbock, TX | 06/20/2025 | $26,088 |
| State of Virginia | Power Plant Lead Worker: State Farm Correctional Center #01709 | Goochland, VA | 06/13/2025 | $40,135 |
| PSC Group | Chemical Plant Worker | Pasadena, TX | 06/11/2025 | $35,479 |
| Aramark Corp | Food Prep Worker I-Ford Chicago Stamping Plant | Chicago Heights, IL | 06/09/2025 | $37,566 |
| PSC Group | Chemical Plant Worker/Maintenance Helper | Artesia, NM | 06/07/2025 | $43,827 |
| PSC Group | Chemical Plant Worker | Morris, IL | 06/05/2025 | $45,914 |
| PSC Group | Chemical Plant Worker | South Charleston, WV | 06/05/2025 | $35,479 |
| PSC Group | Chemical Plant Worker/Maintenance Helper | Artesia, CA | 06/05/2025 | $43,827 |
| PSC Group | Chemical Plant Worker | Freeport, NY | 06/03/2025 | $50,610 |
Plant worker salary FAQs
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