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The average salary for a Press Machine Operator is approximately $37,759 per year, translating to about $18 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and the industry in which you work.
Entry-level positions typically start at a lower salary, but as operators gain experience, their earning potential increases significantly. Operators with several years of experience can earn upwards of $45,000 annually.
Press Machine Operators in states like California and Texas often report higher salaries, with cities like Los Angeles and Houston offering some of the best compensation packages. Exploring job opportunities in these areas can lead to better financial prospects.
Many companies across various sectors are seeking skilled Press Machine Operators. Job boards like Zippia provide access to numerous listings, allowing you to apply for positions that match your qualifications and salary expectations.
Let Zippia find your next press machine operator job
Let Zippia find your next press machine operator job
The average press machine operator salary in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average press machine operator salary states are Alabama, Texas, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $45,584 | $21.92 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $45,460 | $21.86 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $44,705 | $21.49 |
| 4 | Vermont | $44,708 | $21.49 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $40,746 | $19.59 |
| 6 | Maine | $42,624 | $20.49 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $44,555 | $21.42 |
| 8 | Alaska | $41,786 | $20.09 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $40,867 | $19.65 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $40,545 | $19.49 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $41,685 | $20.04 |
| 12 | Maryland | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| 13 | Nevada | $42,215 | $20.30 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $39,810 | $19.14 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $42,261 | $20.32 |
| 16 | Kansas | $40,196 | $19.32 |
| 17 | Delaware | $44,064 | $21.18 |
| 18 | Ohio | $37,215 | $17.89 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $43,270 | $20.80 |
| 20 | Illinois | $39,380 | $18.93 |
| 21 | Idaho | $39,580 | $19.03 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $40,176 | $19.32 |
| 23 | Washington | $40,519 | $19.48 |
| 24 | Colorado | $40,807 | $19.62 |
| 25 | Montana | $39,713 | $19.09 |
| 26 | Utah | $37,474 | $18.02 |
| 27 | Indiana | $36,182 | $17.40 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $39,729 | $19.10 |
| 29 | Michigan | $36,006 | $17.31 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $38,059 | $18.30 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $38,744 | $18.63 |
| 32 | Oregon | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $37,166 | $17.87 |
| 34 | New York | $39,597 | $19.04 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $36,057 | $17.34 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $35,748 | $17.19 |
| 37 | California | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| 38 | Iowa | $34,896 | $16.78 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $35,848 | $17.23 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $37,074 | $17.82 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $34,728 | $16.70 |
| 42 | Missouri | $35,204 | $16.93 |
| 43 | Virginia | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| 45 | Alabama | $34,647 | $16.66 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $34,861 | $16.76 |
| 47 | Georgia | $33,616 | $16.16 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $35,343 | $16.99 |
| 49 | Texas | $33,782 | $16.24 |
| 50 | Arizona | $33,350 | $16.03 |
| 51 | Florida | $32,288 | $15.52 |
The highest-paying cities for press machine operators are Minneapolis, MN, Menomonee Falls, WI, and Auburn, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $40,859 | $19.64 |
| 2 | Menomonee Falls, WI | $40,758 | $19.60 |
| 3 | Auburn, WA | $40,565 | $19.50 |
| 4 | Lancaster, PA | $40,405 | $19.43 |
| 5 | Montebello, CA | $39,949 | $19.21 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $39,888 | $19.18 |
| 7 | Wheeling, IL | $39,591 | $19.03 |
| 8 | Lorain, OH | $37,877 | $18.21 |
| 9 | North Charleston, SC | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $36,872 | $17.73 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $36,021 | $17.32 |
| 12 | Asheville, NC | $35,874 | $17.25 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $35,251 | $16.95 |
| 14 | Midland, TX | $34,221 | $16.45 |
| 15 | Gainesville, GA | $33,867 | $16.28 |
| 16 | Knoxville, TN | $33,375 | $16.05 |
| 17 | Mesa, AZ | $33,358 | $16.04 |
| 18 | Pensacola, FL | $32,696 | $15.72 |
A press machine operator's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $37,759 | $3,147 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
The highest paying types of press machine operators are set-up operator, grinder operator, and punch press operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molder Operator | $31,707 | $2,642 | $15.24 | 66,217 |
| Set-Up Operator | $39,269 | $3,272 | $18.88 | 55,670 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
| Grinder Operator | $37,978 | $3,165 | $18.26 | 65,420 |
| Line Operator | $34,520 | $2,877 | $16.60 | 137,127 |
Top companies hiring press machine operators now:
Press machine operator salaries at Johnson Controls and Thermo Fisher Scientific are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average press machine operator salary at companies like Winston Industries and Amcor are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson Controls | $48,953 | $23.54 |
| 2 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $44,624 | $21.45 |
| 3 | Winston Industries | $44,554 | $21.42 |
| 4 | Amcor | $44,347 | $21.32 |
| 5 | Clean Juice | $43,756 | $21.04 |
| 6 | Siemens | $43,542 | $20.93 |
| 7 | Goodman Manufacturing | $43,366 | $20.85 |
| 8 | Reynolds Consumer Products Holdings LLC | $42,876 | $20.61 |
| 9 | E.C. Styberg Engineering | $42,374 | $20.37 |
| 10 | Alto-Shaam | $41,727 | $20.06 |
| 11 | Eaton | $41,539 | $19.97 |
| 12 | Tyson Foods | $41,468 | $19.94 |
| 13 | Millerbernd Systems | $40,975 | $19.70 |
| 14 | HEICO | $40,892 | $19.66 |
| 15 | TBI | $39,751 | $19.11 |
| 16 | Honeywell | $39,466 | $18.97 |
| 17 | The Next Level | $39,462 | $18.97 |
| 18 | A.C.S. | $38,842 | $18.67 |
| 19 | Acushnet Holdings | $38,838 | $18.67 |
| 20 | TRIPP | $38,323 | $18.42 |
The average press machine operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $46,189 | $22.21 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $42,459 | $20.41 |
| 3 | Automotive | $39,580 | $19.03 |
| 4 | Technology | $38,844 | $18.68 |
| 5 | Professional | $36,308 | $17.46 |
The average press machine operator salary has risen by $7,413 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average press machine operator earned $30,346 annually, but today, they earn $37,759 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for press machine operators over the last decade.
Compare press machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare press machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,800 | $18.15 | +3.7% |
| 2025 | $36,400 | $17.48 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $35,200 | $16.92 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $33,800 | $16.23 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $33,100 | $15.89 | +3.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerotek | Press Machine Operator | Pleasant Prairie, WI | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Machine Press Operator | Jeffersonville, IN | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Opsource Staffing | Punch Press Machine Operator | Campobello, SC | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Gannett Co. Inc. | Press/Machine Operator | New Castle, DE | 06/24/2025 | $41,740 |
| Alg Labels + Graphics | Machine Operator-Screenprint Press Operator (1ST/2Nd Shift Opportunities) | Birmingham, AL | 06/21/2025 | $37,566 |
| Holman Automotive | Machine Operator/Brake Press Operator | Huntington, IN | 06/20/2025 | $39,653 |
| The Arnold Group | Press Machine Operator | Wichita, KS | 06/20/2025 | $35,479 |
| Deline Box & Display | Digital Press Machine Operator | Denver, CO | 06/15/2025 | $41,740 |
| Manpowergroup | Press Machine Operator | Harlingen, TX | 06/05/2025 | $22,957 |
| Practice Xpert Inc. | Assembler/Welder/Forklift Operator/Material Handler/Press Operator/Machine Operator | Troy, OH | 05/28/2025 | $21,914 |
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