Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Lathe operator salary
Average lathe operator salary
$36,280
Average Lathe Operator Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a lathe operator in the United States is $36,280 per year, or about $17 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific industry. Entry-level lathe operators may start at lower wages, while those with more experience and specialized skills can command higher salaries.
Salaries by Experience Level
For example, a lathe operator with less than one year of experience might earn around $30,000, while those with 5-10 years can see salaries closer to $40,000 or more. This growth reflects the increasing demand for skilled operators in manufacturing and machining roles.
Highest Paying States for Lathe Operators
Geographically, salaries differ greatly, with states like California and Texas offering higher pay due to the concentration of manufacturing jobs. Understanding these salary dynamics is crucial for job seekers aiming to maximize their earning potential in this field.
Let Zippi find your next lathe operator job
Let Zippi find your next lathe operator job
Where can a Lathe Operator earn more?
Lathe operator salaries by experience level
Lathe operator salary estimates from across the web
Average lathe operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for lathe operators are Ohio, West Virginia, and Alaska. The lowest average lathe operator salary states are Tennessee, Wyoming, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for lathe operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $45,587 | $21.92 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $43,751 | $21.03 |
| 3 | Alaska | $44,633 | $21.46 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $41,108 | $19.76 |
| 5 | Iowa | $41,985 | $20.19 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $43,071 | $20.71 |
| 7 | Illinois | $42,855 | $20.60 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $42,308 | $20.34 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $45,504 | $21.88 |
| 10 | Maryland | $42,253 | $20.31 |
| 11 | Missouri | $42,964 | $20.66 |
| 12 | Utah | $42,863 | $20.61 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $43,906 | $21.11 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $40,570 | $19.50 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $41,598 | $20.00 |
| 17 | Kansas | $41,224 | $19.82 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $42,168 | $20.27 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| 20 | Delaware | $42,452 | $20.41 |
| 21 | Colorado | $42,667 | $20.51 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $40,402 | $19.42 |
| 23 | Michigan | $38,489 | $18.50 |
| 24 | Vermont | $39,294 | $18.89 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $37,098 | $17.84 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $38,627 | $18.57 |
| 27 | Nevada | $39,296 | $18.89 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $35,461 | $17.05 |
| 29 | Indiana | $34,967 | $16.81 |
| 30 | Montana | $39,009 | $18.75 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $37,983 | $18.26 |
| 32 | California | $39,773 | $19.12 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $35,692 | $17.16 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $35,046 | $16.85 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $33,898 | $16.30 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $34,694 | $16.68 |
| 37 | Texas | $35,625 | $17.13 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $34,767 | $16.71 |
| 39 | Georgia | $33,629 | $16.17 |
| 40 | Oregon | $35,458 | $17.05 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $35,729 | $17.18 |
| 42 | Maine | $34,196 | $16.44 |
| 43 | Arizona | $34,038 | $16.36 |
| 44 | Virginia | $36,205 | $17.41 |
| 45 | Alabama | $33,491 | $16.10 |
| 46 | Idaho | $34,317 | $16.50 |
| 47 | Washington | $35,185 | $16.92 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $33,478 | $16.10 |
| 49 | New York | $34,684 | $16.68 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $33,871 | $16.28 |
| 51 | Florida | $33,612 | $16.16 |
Highest paying cities for lathe operators
The highest-paying cities for lathe operators are Youngstown, OH, Salt Lake City, UT, and Springfield, MO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown, OH | $46,589 | $22.40 |
| 2 | Salt Lake City, UT | $42,836 | $20.59 |
| 3 | Springfield, MO | $42,825 | $20.59 |
| 4 | Olive Branch, MS | $42,618 | $20.49 |
| 5 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $39,464 | $18.97 |
| 6 | Livonia, MI | $38,613 | $18.56 |
| 7 | Monroeville, PA | $36,796 | $17.69 |
| 8 | Seguin, TX | $35,720 | $17.17 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $35,311 | $16.98 |
| 10 | Everett, WA | $35,269 | $16.96 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,118 | $16.88 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $34,358 | $16.52 |
| 13 | Rochester, NY | $33,969 | $16.33 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $33,830 | $16.26 |
Lathe operator salary details
A lathe operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $47,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a lathe operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $36,280 | $3,023 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying lathe operator jobs
The highest paying types of lathe operators are set-up operator, mill operator, and numerical control operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numerical Control Operator | $38,280 | $3,190 | $18.40 | 85,068 |
| Extrusion Operator | $36,571 | $3,048 | $17.58 | 58,622 |
| Press Brake Operator | $36,359 | $3,030 | $17.48 | 57,264 |
| Mill Operator | $39,045 | $3,254 | $18.77 | 64,574 |
| Grinder Operator | $37,978 | $3,165 | $18.26 | 65,420 |
| Set-Up Operator | $39,269 | $3,272 | $18.88 | 55,670 |
Top companies hiring lathe operators now:
Which companies pay lathe operators the most?
Lathe operator salaries at Valmont Industries and Precision Castparts are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lathe operator salary at companies like Alamo Group and Timber Products are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valmont Industries | $44,868 | $21.57 |
| 2 | Precision Castparts | $40,796 | $19.61 |
| 3 | Alamo Group | $39,359 | $18.92 |
| 4 | Timber Products | $39,339 | $18.91 |
| 5 | 3M Company | $37,087 | $17.83 |
| 6 | Franklin Electric | $36,765 | $17.68 |
| 7 | Tradesmen International | $36,353 | $17.48 |
| 8 | Morton Salt | $36,149 | $17.38 |
| 9 | AAR | $36,098 | $17.35 |
| 10 | CNY Outsourcing | $35,954 | $17.29 |
| 11 | Arcosa | $35,876 | $17.25 |
| 12 | Laboratory Testing | $35,719 | $17.17 |
| 13 | TriMas | $35,692 | $17.16 |
| 14 | rEvolution | $35,680 | $17.15 |
| 15 | QPS | $35,676 | $17.15 |
| 16 | Drt Inc | $35,554 | $17.09 |
| 17 | Varex Imaging | $35,554 | $17.09 |
| 18 | The Rogers Company | $34,951 | $16.80 |
| 19 | Onamac Ind | $34,941 | $16.80 |
| 20 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $34,808 | $16.73 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Lathe operator salary trends
The average lathe operator salary has risen by $4,656 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lathe operator earned $31,624 annually, but today, they earn $36,280 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for lathe operators over the last decade.
Compare lathe operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average lathe operator salary over time
Compare lathe operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Lathe operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,300 | $17.44 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $35,200 | $16.90 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $34,400 | $16.51 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $33,800 | $16.26 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | $33,700 | $16.22 | +4.3% |
Recently added lathe operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manpowergroup | Lathe Operator | Dyer, IN | 06/26/2025 | $44,662 |
| AHU Technologies | Swiss Lathe Operator/Mill | Washington, DC | 06/24/2025 | $48,000 |
| DJ Acquisition Management Corp | Swiss Lathe Operator/Mill | Rochester, NY | 06/12/2025 | $41,740 |
| Kelly Services | Lathe Operators for Project | Eastlake, OH | 06/04/2025 | $52,175 |
| Qualified Staffing | Nights Mill/Lathe Operators | Chesterfield, MI | 05/23/2025 | $37,566 |
| Zaniboni Lighting | Bandsaw and Toolroom Lathe Operator | Clearwater, FL | 05/18/2025 | $39,653 |
| Iprecrutesolutions | Manual Lathe Operator | Haverhill, MA | 05/14/2025 | $54,262 |
| The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | Manual Lathe Operator | Topeka, KS | 05/12/2025 | $81,915 |
| Martin Sprocket & Gear | Manual Lathe Operator-1St. Shift | Sacramento, CA | 05/04/2025 | $48,544 |
| Qualified Staffing | Horizonal Lathe Operator-Bc | Bay City, MI | 04/21/2025 | $41,740 |
Lathe operator salary FAQs
Search for lathe operator jobs