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Line operator salary
Average line operator salary
$16.6
Understanding Line Operator Salaries
The average salary for a line operator in the United States is approximately $34,520 per year, which translates to about $17 per hour. Salaries vary significantly based on factors such as experience level, industry, and geographic location. Entry-level positions may start around $30,000, while experienced operators can make upwards of $40,000 annually.
Key Factors Impacting Salary
Several elements influence a line operator's pay:
- Experience: More experienced operators typically earn higher salaries.
- Industry: Operators in manufacturing may earn differently than those in logistics.
- Location: States like California and Texas often offer higher wages due to demand.
For those aiming to increase their earning potential, gaining experience and seeking opportunities in higher-paying states can lead to better financial outcomes.
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Where can a Line Operator earn more?
Line operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level line operator | $26,200 | $12.60 |
| Mid-level line operator | $33,500 | $16.09 |
| Senior-level line operator | $40,700 | $19.55 |
Line operator salary estimates from across the web
Average line operator salary by state
The average line operator salary in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average line operator salary states are Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for line operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $43,069 | $20.71 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $40,121 | $19.29 |
| 3 | Iowa | $41,283 | $19.85 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $37,282 | $17.92 |
| 5 | Maine | $38,120 | $18.33 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $44,747 | $21.51 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $36,405 | $17.50 |
| 8 | Ohio | $34,899 | $16.78 |
| 9 | Nevada | $37,035 | $17.81 |
| 10 | Kentucky | $34,718 | $16.69 |
| 11 | Alaska | $39,075 | $18.79 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $34,956 | $16.81 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $40,535 | $19.49 |
| 14 | Idaho | $36,097 | $17.35 |
| 15 | Illinois | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $36,952 | $17.77 |
| 17 | Oregon | $37,464 | $18.01 |
| 18 | Utah | $35,184 | $16.92 |
| 19 | Kansas | $35,184 | $16.92 |
| 20 | Michigan | $34,972 | $16.81 |
| 21 | Washington | $39,068 | $18.78 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $34,916 | $16.79 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $34,574 | $16.62 |
| 24 | Indiana | $33,420 | $16.07 |
| 25 | Arizona | $34,723 | $16.69 |
| 26 | Colorado | $36,096 | $17.35 |
| 27 | Missouri | $34,370 | $16.52 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $34,509 | $16.59 |
| 29 | Alabama | $34,053 | $16.37 |
| 30 | California | $35,438 | $17.04 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $32,967 | $15.85 |
| 32 | Montana | $34,593 | $16.63 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $30,486 | $14.66 |
| 34 | Delaware | $34,138 | $16.41 |
| 35 | Vermont | $33,698 | $16.20 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $32,223 | $15.49 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $33,743 | $16.22 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $32,448 | $15.60 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $30,439 | $14.63 |
| 40 | Maryland | $33,416 | $16.07 |
| 41 | Texas | $31,329 | $15.06 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $28,239 | $13.58 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $33,367 | $16.04 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $30,468 | $14.65 |
| 45 | Florida | $29,467 | $14.17 |
| 46 | Georgia | $28,418 | $13.66 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| 48 | New York | $30,686 | $14.75 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $28,657 | $13.78 |
| 50 | Virginia | $30,425 | $14.63 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $22,726 | $10.93 |
Highest paying cities for line operators
The highest-paying cities for line operators are Grand Forks, ND, Minneapolis, MN, and Waterloo, IA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks, ND | $45,152 | $21.71 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,055 | $20.70 |
| 3 | Waterloo, IA | $42,050 | $20.22 |
| 4 | Sheboygan, WI | $40,607 | $19.52 |
| 5 | Sparks, NV | $37,779 | $18.16 |
| 6 | York, PA | $36,775 | $17.68 |
| 7 | Elgin, IL | $36,673 | $17.63 |
| 8 | Turlock, CA | $36,161 | $17.39 |
| 9 | Covington, KY | $35,083 | $16.87 |
| 10 | Rochester, NH | $35,073 | $16.86 |
| 11 | Marion, OH | $34,845 | $16.75 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $34,617 | $16.64 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $34,030 | $16.36 |
| 14 | Farmington, CT | $33,945 | $16.32 |
| 15 | Garland, TX | $31,623 | $15.20 |
| 16 | Murfreesboro, TN | $30,346 | $14.59 |
| 17 | Lakeland, FL | $29,534 | $14.20 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $28,618 | $13.76 |
Line operator salary details
A line operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $43,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a line operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| Average | $34,520 | $2,877 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying line operator jobs
The highest paying types of line operators are relief operator, grinder operator, and operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pack Out Operator | $33,217 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 73,108 |
| Manufacturing Operator | $34,457 | $2,871 | $16.57 | 97,656 |
| Handle Machine Operator | $29,598 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 110,258 |
| Assembly Operator | $31,928 | $2,661 | $15.35 | 87,293 |
| Production Operator | $35,185 | $2,932 | $16.92 | 117,254 |
| Production Line Operator | $33,261 | $2,772 | $15.99 | 155,014 |
Top companies hiring line operators now:
Which companies pay line operators the most?
Line operator salaries at BD and Dairy Farmers of America are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average line operator salary at companies like Kemps and Seneca Foods are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BD | $46,955 | $22.57 |
| 2 | Dairy Farmers of America | $45,972 | $22.10 |
| 3 | Kemps | $45,896 | $22.07 |
| 4 | Seneca Foods | $45,612 | $21.93 |
| 5 | Nestlé | $45,108 | $21.69 |
| 6 | Sanderson Farms | $44,909 | $21.59 |
| 7 | Ventura Foods | $44,505 | $21.40 |
| 8 | Foster Farms | $43,454 | $20.89 |
| 9 | Jennie-O | $42,674 | $20.52 |
| 10 | Kloeckner Metals | $42,469 | $20.42 |
| 11 | Land O'Lakes | $42,440 | $20.40 |
| 12 | PepsiCo | $42,137 | $20.26 |
| 13 | J.R. Simplot | $42,076 | $20.23 |
| 14 | Steuben Foods | $41,857 | $20.12 |
| 15 | Cargill | $41,748 | $20.07 |
| 16 | Talking Rain | $41,723 | $20.06 |
| 17 | Ecolab | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| 18 | John B. Sanfilippo & Son | $41,254 | $19.83 |
| 19 | Benjamin Moore | $41,041 | $19.73 |
| 20 | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | $40,749 | $19.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Line Operator salary by industry
The average line operator salary varies across industries:
- The average line operator salary in the manufacturing industry is $37,379, the highest of any industry.
- The average line operator salary in the finance industry is $36,480.
- Line operators in the retail industry earn an average salary of $33,509, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for line operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $37,379 | $17.97 |
| 2 | Agriculture | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| 3 | Automotive | $36,166 | $17.39 |
| 4 | Retail | $33,509 | $16.11 |
High paying line operator jobs
Line operator salary trends
The average line operator salary has risen by $7,424 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average line operator earned $27,096 annually, but today, they earn $34,520 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for line operators over the last decade.
Compare line operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average line operator salary over time
Compare line operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Line operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,500 | $16.60 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $32,800 | $15.76 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $31,900 | $15.34 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $31,000 | $14.92 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $29,900 | $14.38 | +4.3% |
Recently added line operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohawk Industries | Glaze Line Operator | El Paso, TX | 06/27/2025 | $32,891 |
| Pactiv Evergreen Inc. | Line Operator-Day Shift | Moorhead, MN | 06/27/2025 | $43,952 |
| Avery Dennison Corporation | Casting Line Operator-C Shift PM AM | Lowell, IN | 06/26/2025 | $50,422 |
| Kelly Services | Packaging Line Operator | Penn Yan, NY | 06/26/2025 | $37,044 |
| Chesterman Co. Coca Cola | Can Line Operator (65653) | Sioux City, IA | 06/26/2025 | $40,843 |
| Dal-Tile Corporation | Glaze Line Operator | El Paso, TX | 06/26/2025 | $32,891 |
| Perrigo Company Corporate | Line Operator-2Nd Shift | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $35,479 |
| Yeti Search Group | High Speed Line Operator (Packaging Company) | Le Roy, MN | 06/26/2025 | $58,436 |
| Marazzi Group | Glaze Line Operator | El Paso, TX | 06/26/2025 | $32,891 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Food Service Line Operator | Middletown, PA | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
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