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Machine tender salary

Average machine tender salary

$16.51

$34,332 yearly

Entry-level machine tender salary
$15,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Machine Tender Salary

The average salary for a Machine Tender in the United States is approximately $34,332 annually. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including experience level and geographic location. For instance, entry-level positions may start lower, while those with extensive experience can earn significantly more.

Where Can a Machine Tender Earn More?

Machine Tenders are in demand across various industries, particularly in manufacturing and production settings. States with the highest salaries for this position include California, Texas, and New York. Additionally, cities like Los Angeles and Houston offer competitive pay rates. Job seekers should consider both state and city factors when evaluating potential earnings.

Exploring Opportunities

With the right qualifications, Machine Tenders can advance to supervisory roles or specialize in specific machinery types. This career path not only offers stability but also various opportunities for professional development. For comprehensive insights on salary trends and job openings, utilize Zippia’s resources.

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Where can a Machine Tender earn more?

Compare salary by location
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Columbus, OH$57,058
Knoxville, TN$30,328
Compare salary by company
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Volt Systems LLC$65,461
Total Staffing Solutions$29,392

Machine tender salaries by experience level

Experience levelAvg. salaryHourly rate
Entry-level machine tender$26,100$12.54
Mid-level machine tender$33,300$16.00
Senior-level machine tender$40,400$19.44

Average machine tender salary by state

The average machine tender salary in Connecticut, California, and Pennsylvania are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average machine tender salary states are Colorado, Louisiana, and Alabama.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for machine tenders

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Connecticut$50,956$24.50
2Pennsylvania$47,971$23.06
3Wisconsin$40,399$19.42
4New Hampshire$40,152$19.30
5Rhode Island$45,180$21.72
6California$50,335$24.20
7Massachusetts$43,137$20.74
8Indiana$37,563$18.06
9Michigan$38,116$18.32
10Delaware$45,421$21.84
11Minnesota$37,754$18.15
12Illinois$39,634$19.05
13Oregon$40,484$19.46
14Ohio$35,675$17.15
15New Jersey$44,228$21.26
16Maryland$45,056$21.66
17Kentucky$34,233$16.46
18Iowa$34,278$16.48
19Nevada$39,075$18.79
20Washington$40,400$19.42
21New York$41,385$19.90
22District of Columbia$44,094$21.20
23Kansas$32,246$15.50
24Maine$35,150$16.90
25North Carolina$32,246$15.50
26South Dakota$30,684$14.75
27Arizona$34,602$16.64
28North Dakota$34,433$16.55
29Missouri$32,489$15.62
30Tennessee$29,705$14.28
31West Virginia$34,441$16.56
32Hawaii$39,527$19.00
33Utah$31,298$15.05
34South Carolina$31,623$15.20
35Idaho$33,753$16.23
36Vermont$32,597$15.67
37Texas$32,181$15.47
38Virginia$34,971$16.81
39Georgia$28,737$13.82
40Alaska$29,816$14.33
41Arkansas$27,677$13.31
42Nebraska$27,486$13.21
43Florida$28,274$13.59
44New Mexico$29,817$14.34
45Louisiana$26,900$12.93
46Mississippi$24,767$11.91
47Alabama$25,007$12.02
48Montana$27,915$13.42
49Colorado$27,180$13.07
50Oklahoma$24,951$12.00
51Wyoming$18,810$9.04

Highest paying cities for machine tenders

The highest-paying cities for machine tenders are Fairfield, CA, Warminster, PA, and Elkhart, IN.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Fairfield, CA$57,058$27.43
2Warminster, PA$48,113$23.13
3Elkhart, IN$41,644$20.02
4Hicksville, NY$41,337$19.87
5Neenah, WI$40,678$19.56
6Aurora, IL$39,310$18.90
7Mankato, MN$37,077$17.83
8Joplin, MO$32,320$15.54
9Houston, TX$32,080$15.42
10Knoxville, TN$30,328$14.58

Machine tender salary details

A machine tender's salary ranges from $15,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average machine tender salary graph
Average machine tender salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a machine tender's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$77,000$6,417$37
75th Percentile$52,000$4,333$25
Average$34,332$2,861$17
25th Percentile$22,000$1,833$11
10th Percentile$15,000$1,250$7

Highest paying machine tender jobs

The highest paying types of machine tenders are packaging specialist, relief operator, and lead operator/machine operator.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Filler Operator$37,729$3,144$18.1465,876
Cell Operator$37,866$3,155$18.2066,532
Pack Out Operator$33,217$2,768$15.9773,108
Relief Operator$42,693$3,558$20.5364,469
Packager$31,506$2,625$15.153,674
Packaging Operator$34,269$2,856$16.4885,698

Which companies pay machine tenders the most?

Machine tender salaries at Volt Systems LLC and Amcor are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average machine tender salary at companies like Jelly Belly and Stanley Black & Decker are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1Volt Systems LLC$65,461$31.47
2Amcor$48,409$23.27
3Jelly Belly$47,133$22.66
4Stanley Black & Decker$40,386$19.42
5WestRock$39,823$19.15
6EFP$35,640$17.13
7Diversified Sourcing$32,501$15.63
8Toyo Ink America$31,379$15.09
9BEMIS ASSOCIATES$31,076$14.94
10Unifrax$30,591$14.71
11AJM Packaging$30,495$14.66
12Randstad North America, Inc.$30,065$14.45
13KIK Custom Products Inc.$29,502$14.18
14Total Staffing Solutions$29,392$14.13

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$37,000$36,000$35,000$34,000$33,000$32,000
MaleFemale

Machine tender salary trends

The average machine tender salary has risen by $7,384 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average machine tender earned $26,948 annually, but today, they earn $34,332 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for machine tenders over the last decade.

Compare machine tender salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average machine tender salary over time

Compare machine tender salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Machine tender salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2025$34,300$16.51+5.1%
2024$32,600$15.67+2.7%
2023$31,700$15.25+2.7%
2022$30,900$14.84+3.6%
2021$29,800$14.31+4.3%

Recently added machine tender salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Pactiv Evergreen Inc.Machine TenderNorth Vernon, IN06/27/2025$33,329
AmcorMachine TenderMankato, MN06/20/2025$43,681
PeoplereadyMachine TenderAgawam Town, MA06/04/2025$41,740
H P Hood LLCMachine Tender 2Nd Shift-TemporarySuffield, CT05/25/2025$41,740
HoodMachine Tender 2Nd Shift-TemporarySuffield, CT05/24/2025$41,740
StrapworksSublimation Machine TenderEugene, OR05/22/2025$31,827
AmcorMachine Tender 1St. ShiftMankato, MN05/21/2025$43,681
PeoplereadyMachine TenderAgawam Town, MA05/10/2025$41,740
Area Temps, Inc.Machine TenderBerea, OH03/27/2025$33,392
Area Temps, Inc.Machine TenderBerea, OH02/19/2025$33,392

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