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Planting machine operator salary
Average planting machine operator salary
$16.72
Average Planting Machine Operator Salary
The average salary for a Planting Machine Operator in the United States stands at approximately $34,785 annually or about $17 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as geographical location, experience level, and specific employer industry. For example, operators with more experience typically command higher wages, with entry-level positions starting around $16.72 per hour.
Where Can a Planting Machine Operator Earn More?
Some states offer significantly higher salaries for planting machine operators. States like California and Texas are known for competitive pay, often exceeding the national average. Additionally, urban areas tend to provide better compensation compared to rural regions.
Highest Paying Cities for Planting Machine Operators
Cities such as San Jose and Los Angeles showcase some of the highest salaries for planting machine operators. Employment opportunities in these areas often come with additional benefits, making them attractive options for job seekers.
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Where can a Planting Machine Operator earn more?
Planting machine operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level planting machine operator | $26,400 | $12.70 |
| Mid-level planting machine operator | $33,700 | $16.21 |
| Senior-level planting machine operator | $41,000 | $19.70 |
Average planting machine operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for planting machine operators are Connecticut, Washington, and California. The lowest average planting machine operator salary states are West Virginia, Louisiana, and Virginia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for planting machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $37,239 | $17.90 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $37,469 | $18.01 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $38,519 | $18.52 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $40,591 | $19.51 |
| 5 | Iowa | $36,257 | $17.43 |
| 6 | Alaska | $37,423 | $17.99 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $36,482 | $17.54 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $36,931 | $17.76 |
| 9 | Illinois | $37,051 | $17.81 |
| 10 | Kansas | $36,091 | $17.35 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $39,038 | $18.77 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $37,214 | $17.89 |
| 13 | Washington | $39,848 | $19.16 |
| 14 | Maine | $36,049 | $17.33 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $34,421 | $16.55 |
| 16 | Missouri | $35,676 | $17.15 |
| 17 | Oregon | $36,341 | $17.47 |
| 18 | California | $39,709 | $19.09 |
| 19 | Indiana | $32,943 | $15.84 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $34,012 | $16.35 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $34,036 | $16.36 |
| 22 | Idaho | $34,795 | $16.73 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $33,261 | $15.99 |
| 24 | Texas | $34,432 | $16.55 |
| 25 | Utah | $32,617 | $15.68 |
| 26 | Arizona | $34,722 | $16.69 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $33,915 | $16.31 |
| 28 | Nevada | $33,782 | $16.24 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $31,121 | $14.96 |
| 30 | Delaware | $34,616 | $16.64 |
| 31 | Alabama | $32,194 | $15.48 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $31,934 | $15.35 |
| 33 | Michigan | $31,235 | $15.02 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $31,059 | $14.93 |
| 35 | Maryland | $34,443 | $16.56 |
| 36 | Ohio | $29,878 | $14.36 |
| 37 | Vermont | $32,634 | $15.69 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $30,500 | $14.66 |
| 39 | New York | $32,280 | $15.52 |
| 40 | Georgia | $29,891 | $14.37 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $30,046 | $14.45 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $31,933 | $15.35 |
| 43 | Florida | $30,372 | $14.60 |
| 44 | Colorado | $30,778 | $14.80 |
| 45 | Montana | $30,677 | $14.75 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $26,229 | $12.61 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $27,653 | $13.29 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $29,008 | $13.95 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $28,410 | $13.66 |
| 50 | Virginia | $28,014 | $13.47 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $21,262 | $10.22 |
Highest paying cities for planting machine operators
The highest-paying cities for planting machine operators are Kent, WA, Easton, PA, and Appleton, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kent, WA | $39,916 | $19.19 |
| 2 | Easton, PA | $39,158 | $18.83 |
| 3 | Appleton, WI | $38,306 | $18.42 |
| 4 | Aurora, IL | $37,054 | $17.81 |
| 5 | Salina, KS | $36,305 | $17.45 |
| 6 | South Brunswick, NJ | $33,896 | $16.30 |
| 7 | Rochester, NY | $33,210 | $15.97 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $32,784 | $15.76 |
| 9 | Columbia, SC | $31,993 | $15.38 |
| 10 | Grand Rapids, MI | $31,230 | $15.01 |
| 11 | Fort Smith, AR | $30,283 | $14.56 |
| 12 | Dalton, GA | $30,157 | $14.50 |
Planting machine operator salary details
A planting machine operator's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $42,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a planting machine operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $34,785 | $2,899 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying planting machine operator jobs
The highest paying types of planting machine operators are packaging specialist, relief operator, and lead operator/machine operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packager | $31,506 | $2,625 | $15.15 | 3,674 |
| Packaging Technician | $35,973 | $2,998 | $17.29 | 64,859 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Filler Operator | $37,729 | $3,144 | $18.14 | 65,876 |
Top companies hiring planting machine operators now:
Which companies pay planting machine operators the most?
Planting machine operator salaries at Sonoco and Sunny Delight are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average planting machine operator salary at companies like Shaw Industries and CSX are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonoco | $40,593 | $19.52 |
| 2 | Sunny Delight | $38,749 | $18.63 |
| 3 | Shaw Industries | $38,734 | $18.62 |
| 4 | CSX | $38,115 | $18.32 |
| 5 | Hormel Foods | $36,943 | $17.76 |
| 6 | Tyson Foods | $36,893 | $17.74 |
| 7 | Conagra Brands | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| 8 | Perdue Farms | $36,639 | $17.61 |
| 9 | NSK Americas, Inc. | $36,325 | $17.46 |
| 10 | Snyder | $36,142 | $17.38 |
| 11 | TPI | $35,478 | $17.06 |
| 12 | Smith Brothers Farms | $35,431 | $17.03 |
| 13 | Zeus Industrial Products | $35,141 | $16.89 |
| 14 | A&S Kinard | $35,081 | $16.87 |
| 15 | Schwan's | $33,570 | $16.14 |
| 16 | NESCO | $33,477 | $16.09 |
| 17 | Adecco | $33,446 | $16.08 |
| 18 | Workbox Staffing | $33,004 | $15.87 |
| 19 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $32,938 | $15.84 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Planting machine operator salary trends
The average planting machine operator salary has risen by $7,481 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average planting machine operator earned $27,304 annually, but today, they earn $34,785 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for planting machine operators over the last decade.
Compare planting machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average planting machine operator salary over time
Compare planting machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Planting machine operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,800 | $16.72 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $33,000 | $15.88 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $32,100 | $15.45 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $31,300 | $15.04 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $30,100 | $14.49 | +4.3% |
Recently added planting machine operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hershey Company | Machine Operator-Lawrence Plant | Lawrence, KS | 06/25/2025 | $43,305 |
| Whole Foods | Machine Operator, Food Plant | Wallingford, CT | 06/22/2025 | $51,132 |
| Joining The Belmark Team | Machine Operator, 2Nd Shift-Plant 5 | De Pere, WI | 06/21/2025 | $43,201 |
| Belmark Inc. | Machine Operator, 2Nd Shift-Plant 5 | De Pere, WI | 06/20/2025 | $43,201 |
| Conagra Foods | Machine Operator-3Rd Shift-Reddi WIP/Tablespreads Plant | Indianapolis, IN | 05/28/2025 | $48,251 |
| The Hershey Company | Machine Operator-Lawrence Plant | Lawrence, KS | 05/22/2025 | $46,436 |
| The Hershey Company | Machine Operator Trainee-Whitestown Plant | Whitestown, IN | 05/05/2025 | $45,914 |
| Conagra | Machine Operator-Day Shift-Reddi WIP/Tablespreads Plant | Indianapolis, IN | 05/03/2025 | $48,251 |
| Trident Seafoods | Machine Operator 3Rd Shift Motley Plant | Motley, MN | 05/03/2025 | $46,791 |
| Conagra | Machine Operator-2Nd Shift-Reddi WIP/Tablespreads Plant | Indianapolis, IN | 04/24/2025 | $49,191 |
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