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Process machine operator salary
Average process machine operator salary
$51,577
Understanding the Process Machine Operator Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Process Machine Operator is $51,577 per year, equating to about $25 per hour. This position is crucial in industries like manufacturing, food processing, and pharmaceuticals, where operators are responsible for monitoring equipment and ensuring production quality.
Salary levels can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry demands. For example, states with high industrial activity may offer higher compensation. Additionally, those with advanced skills or certifications often see increased pay rates.
In terms of job opportunities, cities known for strong manufacturing sectors, such as Houston and Los Angeles, typically present the highest salaries for operators. Furthermore, operators can expect salary growth as they gain experience and take on more responsibilities. Exploring these opportunities can lead to a rewarding career in various sectors.
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Where can a Process Machine Operator earn more?
Average process machine operator salary by state
The average process machine operator salary in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average process machine operator salary states are Kansas, Colorado, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for process machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $86,057 | $41.37 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $84,244 | $40.50 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $81,851 | $39.35 |
| 4 | Delaware | $85,417 | $41.07 |
| 5 | Maryland | $83,178 | $39.99 |
| 6 | Alaska | $77,869 | $37.44 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $86,906 | $41.78 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $82,164 | $39.50 |
| 9 | Ohio | $74,223 | $35.68 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $67,146 | $32.28 |
| 11 | Vermont | $77,437 | $37.23 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $73,878 | $35.52 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $64,188 | $30.86 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $64,752 | $31.13 |
| 15 | Nevada | $73,527 | $35.35 |
| 16 | Michigan | $59,840 | $28.77 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $54,802 | $26.35 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $62,067 | $29.84 |
| 19 | California | $62,567 | $30.08 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $54,535 | $26.22 |
| 21 | Indiana | $52,958 | $25.46 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $65,078 | $31.29 |
| 23 | Maine | $59,339 | $28.53 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $51,919 | $24.96 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $57,816 | $27.80 |
| 26 | New York | $60,324 | $29.00 |
| 27 | Texas | $52,610 | $25.29 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $46,581 | $22.39 |
| 29 | Iowa | $46,487 | $22.35 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $52,811 | $25.39 |
| 31 | Montana | $54,064 | $25.99 |
| 32 | Arizona | $47,508 | $22.84 |
| 33 | Georgia | $46,468 | $22.34 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $45,270 | $21.76 |
| 35 | Florida | $47,922 | $23.04 |
| 36 | Virginia | $50,418 | $24.24 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $47,248 | $22.72 |
| 38 | Missouri | $45,928 | $22.08 |
| 39 | Utah | $43,768 | $21.04 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $48,253 | $23.20 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $44,464 | $21.38 |
| 42 | Illinois | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| 43 | Oregon | $45,103 | $21.68 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $41,238 | $19.83 |
| 45 | Kansas | $43,526 | $20.93 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $45,349 | $21.80 |
| 47 | Idaho | $42,555 | $20.46 |
| 48 | Washington | $44,031 | $21.17 |
| 49 | Alabama | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $40,721 | $19.58 |
| 51 | Colorado | $43,003 | $20.67 |
Highest paying cities for process machine operators
The highest-paying cities for process machine operators are Newington, CT, Medford, MA, and Columbus, OH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newington, CT | $87,867 | $42.24 |
| 2 | Medford, MA | $84,668 | $40.71 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $72,747 | $34.97 |
| 4 | Lodi, CA | $62,092 | $29.85 |
| 5 | York, PA | $53,824 | $25.88 |
| 6 | Chesapeake, VA | $49,666 | $23.88 |
| 7 | Memphis, TN | $45,357 | $21.81 |
| 8 | Redmond, WA | $44,021 | $21.16 |
| 9 | Carol Stream, IL | $43,714 | $21.02 |
| 10 | Kansas City, KS | $43,695 | $21.01 |
| 11 | Boulder, CO | $42,582 | $20.47 |
| 12 | Lakeville, MN | $41,008 | $19.72 |
| 13 | Birmingham, AL | $37,047 | $17.81 |
Process machine operator salary details
A process machine operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $108,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a process machine operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $51,577 | $4,298 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying process machine operator jobs
The highest paying types of process machine operators are developing machine operator, process line operator, and photographic process worker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Retoucher | $51,547 | $4,296 | $24.78 | 16,110 |
| Retoucher | $51,538 | $4,295 | $24.78 | 135 |
| Photo Retoucher | $51,529 | $4,294 | $24.77 | 281 |
Top companies hiring process machine operators now:
Which companies pay process machine operators the most?
Process machine operator salaries at Alere and Fifth Third Bank are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average process machine operator salary at companies like Abbott and Lexmark are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alere | $96,794 | $46.54 |
| 2 | Fifth Third Bank | $91,050 | $43.77 |
| 3 | Abbott | $82,205 | $39.52 |
| 4 | Lexmark | $80,238 | $38.58 |
| 5 | SP Industries | $61,551 | $29.59 |
| 6 | Pretium Packaging | $52,695 | $25.33 |
| 7 | Expert Staffing | $52,318 | $25.15 |
| 8 | ROMAC INDUSTRIES | $52,058 | $25.03 |
| 9 | Hanwha Holdings | $51,825 | $24.92 |
| 10 | Brink's | $51,352 | $24.69 |
| 11 | Willamette Egg Farms | $48,891 | $23.51 |
| 12 | SCHOTT | $47,743 | $22.95 |
| 13 | VVF | $45,108 | $21.69 |
| 14 | TreeHouse Foods | $41,676 | $20.04 |
| 15 | John B. Sanfilippo & Son | $39,906 | $19.19 |
| 16 | Campbells | $39,854 | $19.16 |
| 17 | Shearer's Foods | $38,304 | $18.42 |
| 18 | Campbell Soup | $37,451 | $18.01 |
| 19 | US Foods | $36,842 | $17.71 |
| 20 | Fresh | $36,427 | $17.51 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Process machine operator salary trends
The average process machine operator salary has risen by $17,618 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average process machine operator earned $33,959 annually, but today, they earn $51,577 a year. That works out to a 31% change in pay for process machine operators over the last decade.
Compare process machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average process machine operator salary over time
Compare process machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Process machine operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,600 | $24.80 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | $48,000 | $23.05 | +9.6% |
| 2023 | $43,300 | $20.84 | +5.8% |
| 2022 | $40,800 | $19.63 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $39,300 | $18.90 | -0.5% |
Recently added process machine operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract Pharmacal Corp | Materials Processing Machine Operator | Hauppauge, NY | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| Jack Link's, Inc. | Processing Machine Operator 3Rd Shift (Weekend Days) | New Glarus, WI | 06/27/2025 | $35,396 |
| Design Ready Controls | 3Rd Shift-Wire Processing Machine Operator | Brooklyn Park, MN | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Romac Industries | Process Machine Operator I-Weekend Shift | Bothell, WA | 06/20/2025 | $44,871 |
| Tyson Prepared Foods | Machine Operator Pr03-Processing-2Nd Shift | South Hutchinson, KS | 06/20/2025 | $42,679 |
| Schwan's Company | Machine II Operator-1St. Shift Processing | Erie, PA | 06/19/2025 | $40,697 |
| LXK Lexmark International | Machine Process Operator (2ND Shift) | Boulder, CO | 06/12/2025 | $39,653 |
| Phat Panda | Cannabis Joint Machine Processor | Spokane Valley, WA | 06/11/2025 | $34,769 |
| Triumvirate Environmental | Processing Machine Operator (2ND Shift) | Jeannette, PA | 06/09/2025 | $39,653 |
| LXK Lexmark International | Machine Process Operator (1ST Shift) | Boulder, CO | 05/28/2025 | $39,653 |
Process machine operator salary FAQs
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