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A Clean Room Operator plays a critical role in maintaining sterile environments, ensuring that products are manufactured without contamination. As of October 2025, the average salary for these operators is $31,054 per year or approximately $15 per hour. Salary can vary significantly based on factors such as state, years of experience, and specific industry. For instance, operators in high-demand sectors may see higher compensation.
Operators in states like California and Texas often earn more due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled labor. Additionally, those with specialized training or certifications may command better wages. For example, experienced operators can earn up to $38,000 annually in select metropolitan areas.
The demand for clean room operators is expected to grow as industries increasingly rely on sterile processes. Operators should consider pursuing additional training or certifications to enhance their career prospects and salary potential.
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The highest-paying states for clean room operators are Alaska, New York, and Washington. The lowest average clean room operator salary states are North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $42,851 | $20.60 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $38,151 | $18.34 |
| 4 | Oregon | $37,368 | $17.97 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $33,844 | $16.27 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $35,368 | $17.00 |
| 7 | New York | $41,219 | $19.82 |
| 8 | Washington | $40,416 | $19.43 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $32,576 | $15.66 |
| 10 | Nevada | $32,262 | $15.51 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $36,826 | $17.70 |
| 12 | Vermont | $33,579 | $16.14 |
| 13 | Arizona | $33,261 | $15.99 |
| 14 | Colorado | $33,347 | $16.03 |
| 15 | Montana | $31,618 | $15.20 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $32,500 | $15.63 |
| 17 | Maine | $31,835 | $15.31 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $32,899 | $15.82 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $33,828 | $16.26 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $33,766 | $16.23 |
| 21 | Utah | $30,288 | $14.56 |
| 22 | Illinois | $33,230 | $15.98 |
| 23 | Iowa | $29,079 | $13.98 |
| 24 | Michigan | $29,696 | $14.28 |
| 25 | Ohio | $28,044 | $13.48 |
| 26 | California | $34,026 | $16.36 |
| 27 | Idaho | $31,851 | $15.31 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $27,620 | $13.28 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $28,797 | $13.84 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $29,182 | $14.03 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $26,761 | $12.87 |
| 32 | Missouri | $28,523 | $13.71 |
| 33 | Indiana | $26,729 | $12.85 |
| 34 | Kansas | $28,304 | $13.61 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $27,579 | $13.26 |
| 36 | Virginia | $29,065 | $13.97 |
| 37 | Delaware | $30,066 | $14.45 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $26,524 | $12.75 |
| 39 | Florida | $25,028 | $12.03 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $26,949 | $12.96 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $27,135 | $13.05 |
| 42 | Texas | $24,849 | $11.95 |
| 43 | Maryland | $27,609 | $13.27 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $23,906 | $11.49 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $25,941 | $12.47 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $23,246 | $11.18 |
| 47 | Georgia | $21,459 | $10.32 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $24,020 | $11.55 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $19,366 | $9.31 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $20,777 | $9.99 |
| 51 | Alabama | $22,340 | $10.74 |
The highest-paying cities for clean room operators are Everett, WA, Minneapolis, MN, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everett, WA | $40,985 | $19.70 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,133 | $18.33 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $37,692 | $18.12 |
| 4 | Chelmsford, MA | $35,821 | $17.22 |
| 5 | Santa Clara, CA | $35,305 | $16.97 |
| 6 | Wall, NJ | $35,074 | $16.86 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,367 | $16.04 |
| 8 | Enfield, CT | $33,273 | $16.00 |
| 9 | Salem, NH | $32,531 | $15.64 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $32,227 | $15.49 |
| 11 | Orem, UT | $30,192 | $14.52 |
| 12 | Charlottesville, VA | $29,312 | $14.09 |
| 13 | Omaha, NE | $28,880 | $13.88 |
| 14 | Carlsbad, NM | $26,356 | $12.67 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, FL | $25,474 | $12.25 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $25,134 | $12.08 |
| 17 | Peachtree City, GA | $21,518 | $10.35 |
A clean room operator's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| Average | $31,054 | $2,588 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of clean room operators are operator, production operator, and environmental services aide.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maid | $26,400 | $2,200 | $12.69 | 20,631 |
| Environmental Services Aide | $34,509 | $2,876 | $16.59 | 152,119 |
| Guest Service Attendant | $27,051 | $2,254 | $13.01 | 72,078 |
| Housekeeping Attendant | $28,031 | $2,336 | $13.48 | 112,783 |
| Housekeeping/Laundry | $29,777 | $2,481 | $14.32 | 81,110 |
| Houseman | $28,086 | $2,340 | $13.50 | 52,140 |
Top companies hiring clean room operators now:
Clean room operator salaries at Post Holdings and Oregon Health & Science University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average clean room operator salary at companies like Integra LifeSciences and Volt Systems LLC are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Post Holdings | $39,468 | $18.98 |
| 2 | Oregon Health & Science University | $39,425 | $18.95 |
| 3 | Integra LifeSciences | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| 4 | Volt Systems LLC | $32,642 | $15.69 |
| 5 | MAS Medical Staffing | $32,214 | $15.49 |
| 6 | TalentBurst | $31,787 | $15.28 |
| 7 | Aerotek | $31,103 | $14.95 |
| 8 | Publix | $30,974 | $14.89 |
| 9 | Kelly Services | $30,931 | $14.87 |
| 10 | Adecco | $30,807 | $14.81 |
| 11 | Spectrum Plastics Group | $30,778 | $14.80 |
| 12 | Express Employment Indy South | $30,612 | $14.72 |
| 13 | Sartorius | $30,458 | $14.64 |
| 14 | HW Staffing Solutions | $30,284 | $14.56 |
| 15 | TSE Industries | $29,612 | $14.24 |
| 16 | System One | $29,484 | $14.18 |
| 17 | Enviva | $28,685 | $13.79 |
| 18 | Commonwealth Hotels | $28,499 | $13.70 |
| 19 | Brink's | $28,492 | $13.70 |
| 20 | Cogent Communications | $28,315 | $13.61 |
The average clean room operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $34,602 | $16.64 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $33,802 | $16.25 |
| 3 | Health Care | $31,686 | $15.23 |
| 4 | Professional | $30,670 | $14.75 |
The average clean room operator salary has risen by $8,089 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average clean room operator earned $22,965 annually, but today, they earn $31,054 a year. That works out to a 20% change in pay for clean room operators over the last decade.
Compare clean room operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare clean room operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,100 | $14.93 | +5.2% |
| 2024 | $29,400 | $14.15 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $28,200 | $13.53 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $27,100 | $13.02 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | $25,800 | $12.42 | +4.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerotek | Immediate !!!! 1St./2Nd Shift-Clean Room Operator | Irvine, CA | 06/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| Kelly Services | Clean Room Operator | Miami, OK | 06/19/2025 | $30,262 |
| Aerotek | Clean Room Operator | River Falls, WI | 06/17/2025 | $35,479 |
| Catapult | Clean Room Operator | Greensboro, NC | 06/04/2025 | $50,088 |
| Tekniplex | Plastics Extrusion/Clean Room Operator-1St. Shift, 2Nd Shift, & 3Rd Shift) | Industry, CA | 05/24/2025 | $38,129 |
| Aerotek | Clean Room Operator | Phoenix, AZ | 05/22/2025 | $38,610 |
| Keystaff Inc. | Clean Room Machine Operator-Austin, TX 78753 | Austin, TX | 05/22/2025 | $36,940 |
| Aerotek | Clean Room Operator | New Brighton, MN | 05/21/2025 | $44,349 |
| Aerotek | Clean Room Environment-Extrusion Operator | Macedonia, OH | 05/17/2025 | $43,827 |
| Staffmark Group | Clean Room Operator | Irvine, CA | 05/15/2025 | $41,740 |
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