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The typical salary for a Feed Mill Operator in the United States is approximately $37,710 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of employer. For instance, operators with more experience generally command higher pay, often exceeding $50,000 annually in specific regions.
States like California, Texas, and Florida offer some of the highest wages for Feed Mill Operators. In California, the average salary can reach around $45,000 due to the state's robust agricultural sector. In contrast, positions in less populated states may offer lower salaries but can provide lower living costs, balancing overall compensation.
Entry-level Feed Mill Operators typically start around $30,000 annually, while those with over a decade of experience can earn upwards of $50,000. Moreover, specialized roles, such as quality control or supervisory positions, often come with increased financial incentives.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level feed mill operator | $26,800 | $12.88 |
| Mid-level feed mill operator | $29,600 | $14.23 |
| Senior-level feed mill operator | $44,600 | $21.46 |
The highest-paying states for feed mill operators are Minnesota, California, and New Hampshire. The lowest average feed mill operator salary states are Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $47,759 | $22.96 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $43,137 | $20.74 |
| 3 | Nevada | $40,594 | $19.52 |
| 4 | Utah | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| 5 | Montana | $41,657 | $20.03 |
| 6 | Missouri | $39,773 | $19.12 |
| 7 | Indiana | $38,722 | $18.62 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $38,595 | $18.56 |
| 9 | Vermont | $41,034 | $19.73 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $40,283 | $19.37 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $42,503 | $20.43 |
| 12 | Ohio | $38,037 | $18.29 |
| 13 | New York | $42,357 | $20.36 |
| 14 | Oregon | $40,587 | $19.51 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $40,541 | $19.49 |
| 16 | Illinois | $40,283 | $19.37 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $41,113 | $19.77 |
| 19 | Iowa | $37,844 | $18.19 |
| 20 | Maine | $38,902 | $18.70 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $38,457 | $18.49 |
| 22 | Colorado | $41,281 | $19.85 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $39,046 | $18.77 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $38,502 | $18.51 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $37,868 | $18.21 |
| 26 | Alaska | $39,115 | $18.81 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $38,657 | $18.59 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| 29 | Maryland | $43,080 | $20.71 |
| 30 | California | $43,998 | $21.15 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $38,928 | $18.72 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $38,176 | $18.35 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| 34 | Idaho | $36,708 | $17.65 |
| 35 | Michigan | $35,912 | $17.27 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $36,776 | $17.68 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $36,542 | $17.57 |
| 38 | Arizona | $38,025 | $18.28 |
| 39 | Kansas | $35,945 | $17.28 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $34,313 | $16.50 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $34,555 | $16.61 |
| 42 | Texas | $36,166 | $17.39 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $36,082 | $17.35 |
| 44 | Alabama | $33,996 | $16.34 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $33,646 | $16.18 |
| 46 | Florida | $35,667 | $17.15 |
| 47 | Delaware | $36,344 | $17.47 |
| 48 | Washington | $36,922 | $17.75 |
| 49 | Georgia | $34,075 | $16.38 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $29,249 | $14.06 |
| 51 | Virginia | $32,761 | $15.75 |
The highest-paying cities for feed mill operators are Aurora, CO, Statesville, NC, and Omaha, NE.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aurora, CO | $41,251 | $19.83 |
| 2 | Statesville, NC | $38,671 | $18.59 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $38,651 | $18.58 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $37,918 | $18.23 |
| 5 | Iowa City, IA | $37,789 | $18.17 |
| 6 | Tyler, TX | $36,129 | $17.37 |
A feed mill operator's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $37,710 | $3,143 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
The highest paying types of feed mill operators are bucket operator, multi-skilled operator, and mill operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Employee | $32,872 | $2,739 | $15.80 | 75,730 |
| Shop Worker | $31,850 | $2,654 | $15.31 | 73,161 |
| Production Worker | $30,847 | $2,571 | $14.83 | 136,584 |
| Production Utility Worker | $31,692 | $2,641 | $15.24 | 81,054 |
| Production Line Operator | $33,261 | $2,772 | $15.99 | 155,014 |
| Production Operator | $35,185 | $2,932 | $16.92 | 117,254 |
Top companies hiring feed mill operators now:
Feed mill operator salaries at University of Wisconsin System and MFA Incorporated are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average feed mill operator salary at companies like Sanderson Farms and PepsiCo are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin System | $43,058 | $20.70 |
| 2 | MFA Incorporated | $41,909 | $20.15 |
| 3 | Sanderson Farms | $41,577 | $19.99 |
| 4 | PepsiCo | $41,538 | $19.97 |
| 5 | Foster Farms | $40,709 | $19.57 |
| 6 | Hormel Foods | $39,515 | $19.00 |
| 7 | Tyson Foods | $39,402 | $18.94 |
| 8 | Butterball | $38,840 | $18.67 |
| 9 | CHS | $37,692 | $18.12 |
| 10 | Smithfield Foods | $37,636 | $18.09 |
| 11 | Savage | $36,385 | $17.49 |
| 12 | Livestock Nutrition Center Llc | $36,336 | $17.47 |
| 13 | Christensen Farms | $36,154 | $17.38 |
| 14 | Bartlett and Company | $35,991 | $17.30 |
| 15 | Seaboard | $35,788 | $17.21 |
| 16 | United Electric Cooperative Services, Inc. | $35,661 | $17.14 |
| 17 | Perdue Farms | $35,338 | $16.99 |
| 18 | Darling Ingredients | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| 19 | Pine Manor College | $34,599 | $16.63 |
| 20 | Aventure Staffing | $33,004 | $15.87 |
The average feed mill operator salary has risen by $5,638 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average feed mill operator earned $32,072 annually, but today, they earn $37,710 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for feed mill operators over the last decade.
Compare feed mill operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare feed mill operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,700 | $18.13 | +5.2% |
| 2024 | $35,800 | $17.20 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | $36,200 | $17.41 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $34,700 | $16.67 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | $34,500 | $16.60 | +2.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Farms | Feed Mill Mixer/Operator-1St. Shift | Palestine, TX | 06/30/2025 | $41,010 |
| CHS, Inc. | Feed Mill Operator | Tillamook, OR | 06/30/2025 | $35,625 |
| CHS, Inc. | Feed Mill Operator | Dickinson, ND | 06/29/2025 | $31,702 |
| Smithfieldfoods | Feed Mill Operator 1-Night Shift | Bladenboro, NC | 06/28/2025 | $35,479 |
| CHS, Inc. | Feed Mill Operator | Shenandoah, IA | 06/28/2025 | $31,702 |
| Cobb-Vantress | Cobb-Feed Mill Panel Operator | Siloam Springs, AR | 06/26/2025 | $41,427 |
| Tyson Farms | Roaring River Feed Mill: 3Rd Shift Utility/Ingredient Rail Operator Fm03U | Boone, NC | 06/26/2025 | $37,044 |
| Tyson Foods | Roaring River Feed Mill: 3Rd Shift Utility/Ingredient Rail Operator Fm03U | Millingport, NC | 06/25/2025 | $37,044 |
| Pine Manor Inc. | 2Nd Shift Feed Mill Operator | New Paris, IN | 06/25/2025 | $45,914 |
| The Maschhoffs | Night Shift Feed Mill Operator | Carlyle, IL | 06/12/2025 | $34,582 |
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