Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Cell operator salary
Average cell operator salary
$37,866
Average Cell Operator Salary
The average salary for a cell operator in the United States is $37,866 annually, equating to about $18 per hour. This role is crucial in various industries, particularly in manufacturing and telecommunications, where operators manage equipment and ensure efficient operations.
Salary by Experience Level
Experience significantly impacts earnings. Entry-level cell operators typically earn around $30,000, while those with several years of experience can exceed $45,000 annually. This progression reflects the value of expertise in equipment operation and maintenance.
Top Paying States
States such as California and Texas often offer higher salaries, driven by demand in their robust manufacturing sectors. Urban areas tend to provide more opportunities, with cities like Los Angeles and Houston leading the way in compensation. Understanding these trends is vital for job seekers aiming to maximize their earning potential.
Let Zippia find your next cell operator job
Let Zippia find your next cell operator job
Where can a Cell Operator earn more?
Cell operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level cell operator | $26,900 | $12.94 |
| Mid-level cell operator | $29,700 | $14.29 |
| Senior-level cell operator | $44,800 | $21.54 |
Average cell operator salary by state
The average cell operator salary in Washington, Massachusetts, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average cell operator salary states are Arkansas, Michigan, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cell operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $44,688 | $21.48 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $42,590 | $20.48 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $42,274 | $20.32 |
| 4 | Maryland | $43,187 | $20.76 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $41,003 | $19.71 |
| 6 | Missouri | $41,530 | $19.97 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $43,685 | $21.00 |
| 8 | Ohio | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| 9 | Washington | $44,997 | $21.63 |
| 10 | Indiana | $39,435 | $18.96 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $42,773 | $20.56 |
| 12 | Nevada | $41,401 | $19.90 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $38,398 | $18.46 |
| 14 | Vermont | $41,111 | $19.76 |
| 15 | New York | $44,377 | $21.34 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $39,912 | $19.19 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $41,478 | $19.94 |
| 18 | Illinois | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $38,897 | $18.70 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $38,454 | $18.49 |
| 21 | Alaska | $39,098 | $18.80 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $40,896 | $19.66 |
| 23 | Iowa | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| 24 | Montana | $40,446 | $19.45 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $38,059 | $18.30 |
| 26 | Maine | $38,494 | $18.51 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $37,258 | $17.91 |
| 28 | Texas | $39,112 | $18.80 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $39,180 | $18.84 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| 31 | California | $39,994 | $19.23 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $37,698 | $18.12 |
| 33 | Oregon | $39,107 | $18.80 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| 35 | Arizona | $38,332 | $18.43 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $36,918 | $17.75 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $35,345 | $16.99 |
| 38 | Kansas | $36,751 | $17.67 |
| 39 | Georgia | $35,686 | $17.16 |
| 40 | Utah | $35,623 | $17.13 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $36,757 | $17.67 |
| 42 | Florida | $36,362 | $17.48 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $33,810 | $16.25 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $34,324 | $16.50 |
| 45 | Michigan | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| 46 | Idaho | $35,808 | $17.22 |
| 47 | Delaware | $36,187 | $17.40 |
| 48 | Alabama | $32,061 | $15.41 |
| 49 | Colorado | $35,244 | $16.94 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $32,884 | $15.81 |
| 51 | Virginia | $31,933 | $15.35 |
Highest paying cities for cell operators
The highest-paying cities for cell operators are Bothell, WA, Randolph, MA, and Syracuse, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bothell, WA | $45,104 | $21.68 |
| 2 | Randolph, MA | $44,684 | $21.48 |
| 3 | Syracuse, NY | $44,283 | $21.29 |
| 4 | East Hartford, CT | $42,741 | $20.55 |
| 5 | Winona, MN | $42,109 | $20.24 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $41,611 | $20.01 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $40,261 | $19.36 |
| 8 | Melrose Park, IL | $40,159 | $19.31 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $39,143 | $18.82 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $39,006 | $18.75 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| 12 | New Brunswick, NJ | $37,676 | $18.11 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $36,931 | $17.76 |
| 14 | Allentown, PA | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| 15 | Kansas City, KS | $36,769 | $17.68 |
| 16 | Canton, GA | $35,763 | $17.19 |
| 17 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,192 | $16.92 |
| 18 | Warren, MI | $34,084 | $16.39 |
| 19 | Bowling Green, KY | $33,673 | $16.19 |
Cell operator salary details
A cell operator's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cell operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $37,866 | $3,156 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying cell operator jobs
The highest paying types of cell operators are relief operator, operator, and filler operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Operator | $34,457 | $2,871 | $16.57 | 97,656 |
| Handle Machine Operator | $29,598 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 110,258 |
| Production Operator | $35,185 | $2,932 | $16.92 | 117,254 |
| Packaging Operator | $34,269 | $2,856 | $16.48 | 85,698 |
| Pack Machine Operator | $35,157 | $2,930 | $16.90 | 68,876 |
| Pack Out Operator | $33,217 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 73,108 |
Top companies hiring cell operators now:
Which companies pay cell operators the most?
Cell operator salaries at Cummins and Bristol-Myers Squibb are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cell operator salary at companies like HHMI and Pfizer are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cummins | $46,087 | $22.16 |
| 2 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $44,839 | $21.56 |
| 3 | HHMI | $44,394 | $21.34 |
| 4 | Pfizer | $43,593 | $20.96 |
| 5 | Pentair | $42,467 | $20.42 |
| 6 | BlueScope Steel | $42,227 | $20.30 |
| 7 | Raytheon Technologies | $41,378 | $19.89 |
| 8 | Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. | $41,070 | $19.75 |
| 9 | Toyo Tire North America Inc | $40,806 | $19.62 |
| 10 | NOV | $40,717 | $19.58 |
| 11 | Henkel | $40,547 | $19.49 |
| 12 | Medical Billing | $40,248 | $19.35 |
| 13 | Lucid Motors | $40,211 | $19.33 |
| 14 | Vencore | $39,604 | $19.04 |
| 15 | Sunstate Equipment Co. | $38,718 | $18.61 |
| 16 | Saint-Gobain | $38,704 | $18.61 |
| 17 | Stanley Black & Decker | $38,671 | $18.59 |
| 18 | Hitchiner Manufacturing Co | $38,623 | $18.57 |
| 19 | Materion | $38,548 | $18.53 |
| 20 | FN America | $38,539 | $18.53 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cell Operator salary by industry
The average cell operator salary varies across industries:
- The average cell operator salary in the technology industry is $41,770, the highest of any industry.
- The average cell operator salary in the finance industry is $40,684.
- Cell operators in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $38,163, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for cell operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $41,770 | $20.08 |
| 2 | Automotive | $40,684 | $19.56 |
| 3 | Retail | $38,439 | $18.48 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $38,163 | $18.35 |
High paying cell operator jobs
Cell operator salary trends
The average cell operator salary has risen by $5,662 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cell operator earned $32,204 annually, but today, they earn $37,866 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for cell operators over the last decade.
Compare cell operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cell operator salary over time
Compare cell operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cell operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,900 | $18.20 | +5.2% |
| 2024 | $35,900 | $17.27 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | $36,400 | $17.48 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $34,800 | $16.74 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | $34,700 | $16.67 | +2.9% |
Recently added cell operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbotic | Cell Operator | Centralia, WA | 06/30/2025 | $48,001 |
| Symbotic | Cell Operator | Melrose Park, IL | 06/30/2025 | $45,914 |
| Ingersoll Rand | Assembly Cell Operator-2Nd Shift | Alsip, IL | 06/28/2025 | $45,601 |
| Idc Group Inc. | SPF Cell Operator | Coon Rapids, MN | 06/26/2025 | $44,871 |
| Kohler | Enamel Cell Operator-Chre-S1, SH1 | Kohler, WI | 06/22/2025 | $52,697 |
| Idc Group Inc. | SPF Cell Operator (2ND Shift Shift Diff.) | Piqua, OH | 06/16/2025 | $44,871 |
| Conagra Brands, Inc. | Dryer Cell Operator | Menomonie, WI | 06/14/2025 | $59,375 |
| Lawn Tennis Association | Lead Laser Weld Cell Operator | Akron, OH | 06/14/2025 | $83,480 |
| Allied Moulded Products Group | Automated Cell Operator--2Nd Shift | Bryan, OH | 06/13/2025 | $40,133 |
| Doherty Staffing Solutions | Cell Operator-2Nd Shift | Sheldon, IA | 06/13/2025 | $45,643 |
Cell operator salary FAQs
Search for cell operator jobs