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The average salary for a Bag Machine Operator in the United States is approximately $35,374 per year, or about $17 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience, location, and specific industry sectors. For example, entry-level positions may offer lower wages, while experienced operators can command higher salaries.
Different states provide varying salary ranges for bag machine operators. States with higher living costs, such as California and New York, typically offer more competitive salaries compared to others. Understanding the highest paying states can guide job seekers in their career planning.
For those looking to enhance their earning potential, gaining additional skills or certifications can lead to higher-paying positions within the industry. Operators who specialize in particular machinery or processes may find themselves in demand, further increasing their job prospects and salary potential.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level bag machine operator | $26,900 | $12.92 |
| Mid-level bag machine operator | $34,300 | $16.49 |
| Senior-level bag machine operator | $41,700 | $20.03 |
The average bag machine operator salary in Hawaii, Washington, and Minnesota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average bag machine operator salary states are Virginia, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $42,530 | $20.45 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $40,757 | $19.59 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $38,586 | $18.55 |
| 4 | Iowa | $39,615 | $19.05 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $42,249 | $20.31 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $37,958 | $18.25 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $40,024 | $19.24 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $42,949 | $20.65 |
| 9 | Kansas | $38,155 | $18.34 |
| 10 | Alaska | $39,082 | $18.79 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $38,371 | $18.45 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $37,720 | $18.13 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $37,026 | $17.80 |
| 14 | Washington | $42,601 | $20.48 |
| 15 | Missouri | $37,747 | $18.15 |
| 16 | Indiana | $35,763 | $17.19 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $36,095 | $17.35 |
| 18 | Oregon | $38,698 | $18.60 |
| 19 | Illinois | $37,194 | $17.88 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $36,707 | $17.65 |
| 21 | California | $41,996 | $20.19 |
| 22 | Maine | $37,536 | $18.05 |
| 23 | Idaho | $37,507 | $18.03 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $35,859 | $17.24 |
| 25 | Arizona | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| 26 | Delaware | $36,852 | $17.72 |
| 27 | Nevada | $35,751 | $17.19 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $36,089 | $17.35 |
| 29 | Utah | $34,809 | $16.74 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $33,635 | $16.17 |
| 31 | Michigan | $33,523 | $16.12 |
| 32 | Maryland | $36,695 | $17.64 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $32,124 | $15.44 |
| 34 | Texas | $35,307 | $16.97 |
| 35 | Ohio | $31,919 | $15.35 |
| 36 | Georgia | $32,950 | $15.84 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $33,127 | $15.93 |
| 38 | Vermont | $34,078 | $16.38 |
| 39 | New York | $33,921 | $16.31 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $31,143 | $14.97 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $33,232 | $15.98 |
| 42 | Montana | $33,369 | $16.04 |
| 43 | Colorado | $32,586 | $15.67 |
| 44 | Florida | $30,904 | $14.86 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $26,885 | $12.93 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $30,641 | $14.73 |
| 47 | Alabama | $27,104 | $13.03 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $28,976 | $13.93 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $28,729 | $13.81 |
| 50 | Virginia | $29,575 | $14.22 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $22,920 | $11.02 |
The highest-paying cities for bag machine operators are Fairfield, CA, West Bend, WI, and Addison, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfield, CA | $42,233 | $20.30 |
| 2 | West Bend, WI | $40,898 | $19.66 |
| 3 | Addison, IL | $37,404 | $17.98 |
| 4 | Hickory, NC | $37,196 | $17.88 |
| 5 | Brownsville, TX | $35,444 | $17.04 |
| 6 | Bloomington, IN | $34,931 | $16.79 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $33,316 | $16.02 |
| 8 | Fairborn, OH | $31,330 | $15.06 |
| 9 | Hialeah, FL | $30,972 | $14.89 |
A bag machine operator's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $43,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| Average | $35,374 | $2,948 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of bag 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 |
| Press Operator | $34,568 | $2,881 | $16.62 | 55,215 |
| Pack Out Operator | $33,217 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 73,108 |
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
Top companies hiring bag machine operators now:
Bag machine operator salaries at Novolex and AllStaff Technical Solutions are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bag machine operator salary at companies like ABCO Laboratories and ProAmpac are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novolex | $37,999 | $18.27 |
| 2 | AllStaff Technical Solutions | $36,405 | $17.50 |
| 3 | ABCO Laboratories | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| 4 | ProAmpac | $36,202 | $17.40 |
| 5 | Pratt Industries | $36,065 | $17.34 |
| 6 | AJM Packaging | $35,988 | $17.30 |
| 7 | Aerotek | $34,835 | $16.75 |
| 8 | Total Staffing Solutions | $34,756 | $16.71 |
| 9 | Aventure Staffing | $34,628 | $16.65 |
| 10 | Consolidated Container Holdings LLC | $34,283 | $16.48 |
| 11 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $33,576 | $16.14 |
The average bag machine operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $39,015 | $18.76 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $37,076 | $17.82 |
| 3 | Agriculture | $36,797 | $17.69 |
| 4 | Transportation | $36,153 | $17.38 |
The average bag machine operator salary has risen by $7,608 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bag machine operator earned $27,766 annually, but today, they earn $35,374 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for bag machine operators over the last decade.
Compare bag machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare bag machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,400 | $17.01 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $33,600 | $16.15 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $32,700 | $15.71 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $31,800 | $15.29 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $30,700 | $14.74 | +4.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proampac | Converting Bag Machine Operator-2Nd Shift | Hartford, WI | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| The Marathon Group Recruiting | Bag/Pouch Machine Operator | Boone, NC | 06/11/2025 | $58,436 |
| Rosina Food Products | Food Production Machine Operator-Triangle, Vemag, Vertical Bagging-2Nd Shift | West Seneca, NY | 06/06/2025 | $37,566 |
| Sealed Air | Bag Machine Operator | Enon, OH | 06/01/2025 | $44,349 |
| Accredo Packaging, Inc. | Bag Machine Operator | Sugar Land, TX | 05/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| Staffmark Group | Bag Machine Operator | Rogers, AR | 05/24/2025 | $37,566 |
| Advance Polybag Nevada | Bag Machine Operator | Sugar Land, TX | 05/18/2025 | $31,305 |
| Sealed Air Corporation | Bag Machine Operator | Ashland, OH | 04/25/2025 | $44,349 |
| Freshrealm | Bagging Machine Operator | Tracy, CA | 04/15/2025 | $37,566 |
| Proampac Holdings, Inc. | Converting Bag Machine Operator-1St. or 2Nd Shift | Hartford, WI | 04/10/2025 | $39,653 |
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