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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.
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.
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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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly 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 |
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.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $50,956 | $24.50 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $47,971 | $23.06 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $40,399 | $19.42 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $40,152 | $19.30 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $45,180 | $21.72 |
| 6 | California | $50,335 | $24.20 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $43,137 | $20.74 |
| 8 | Indiana | $37,563 | $18.06 |
| 9 | Michigan | $38,116 | $18.32 |
| 10 | Delaware | $45,421 | $21.84 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $37,754 | $18.15 |
| 12 | Illinois | $39,634 | $19.05 |
| 13 | Oregon | $40,484 | $19.46 |
| 14 | Ohio | $35,675 | $17.15 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $44,228 | $21.26 |
| 16 | Maryland | $45,056 | $21.66 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $34,233 | $16.46 |
| 18 | Iowa | $34,278 | $16.48 |
| 19 | Nevada | $39,075 | $18.79 |
| 20 | Washington | $40,400 | $19.42 |
| 21 | New York | $41,385 | $19.90 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $44,094 | $21.20 |
| 23 | Kansas | $32,246 | $15.50 |
| 24 | Maine | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $32,246 | $15.50 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $30,684 | $14.75 |
| 27 | Arizona | $34,602 | $16.64 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $34,433 | $16.55 |
| 29 | Missouri | $32,489 | $15.62 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $29,705 | $14.28 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $34,441 | $16.56 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $39,527 | $19.00 |
| 33 | Utah | $31,298 | $15.05 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $31,623 | $15.20 |
| 35 | Idaho | $33,753 | $16.23 |
| 36 | Vermont | $32,597 | $15.67 |
| 37 | Texas | $32,181 | $15.47 |
| 38 | Virginia | $34,971 | $16.81 |
| 39 | Georgia | $28,737 | $13.82 |
| 40 | Alaska | $29,816 | $14.33 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $27,677 | $13.31 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $27,486 | $13.21 |
| 43 | Florida | $28,274 | $13.59 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $29,817 | $14.34 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $26,900 | $12.93 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $24,767 | $11.91 |
| 47 | Alabama | $25,007 | $12.02 |
| 48 | Montana | $27,915 | $13.42 |
| 49 | Colorado | $27,180 | $13.07 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $24,951 | $12.00 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $18,810 | $9.04 |
The highest-paying cities for machine tenders are Fairfield, CA, Warminster, PA, and Elkhart, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfield, CA | $57,058 | $27.43 |
| 2 | Warminster, PA | $48,113 | $23.13 |
| 3 | Elkhart, IN | $41,644 | $20.02 |
| 4 | Hicksville, NY | $41,337 | $19.87 |
| 5 | Neenah, WI | $40,678 | $19.56 |
| 6 | Aurora, IL | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| 7 | Mankato, MN | $37,077 | $17.83 |
| 8 | Joplin, MO | $32,320 | $15.54 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $32,080 | $15.42 |
| 10 | Knoxville, TN | $30,328 | $14.58 |
A machine tender's salary ranges from $15,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly 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 |
The highest paying types of machine tenders are packaging specialist, relief operator, and lead operator/machine operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filler Operator | $37,729 | $3,144 | $18.14 | 65,876 |
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
| Pack Out Operator | $33,217 | $2,768 | $15.97 | 73,108 |
| Relief Operator | $42,693 | $3,558 | $20.53 | 64,469 |
| Packager | $31,506 | $2,625 | $15.15 | 3,674 |
| Packaging Operator | $34,269 | $2,856 | $16.48 | 85,698 |
Top companies hiring machine tenders now:
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.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volt Systems LLC | $65,461 | $31.47 |
| 2 | Amcor | $48,409 | $23.27 |
| 3 | Jelly Belly | $47,133 | $22.66 |
| 4 | Stanley Black & Decker | $40,386 | $19.42 |
| 5 | WestRock | $39,823 | $19.15 |
| 6 | EFP | $35,640 | $17.13 |
| 7 | Diversified Sourcing | $32,501 | $15.63 |
| 8 | Toyo Ink America | $31,379 | $15.09 |
| 9 | BEMIS ASSOCIATES | $31,076 | $14.94 |
| 10 | Unifrax | $30,591 | $14.71 |
| 11 | AJM Packaging | $30,495 | $14.66 |
| 12 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $30,065 | $14.45 |
| 13 | KIK Custom Products Inc. | $29,502 | $14.18 |
| 14 | Total Staffing Solutions | $29,392 | $14.13 |
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.
Compare machine tender salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly 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% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pactiv Evergreen Inc. | Machine Tender | North Vernon, IN | 06/27/2025 | $33,329 |
| Amcor | Machine Tender | Mankato, MN | 06/20/2025 | $43,681 |
| Peopleready | Machine Tender | Agawam Town, MA | 06/04/2025 | $41,740 |
| H P Hood LLC | Machine Tender 2Nd Shift-Temporary | Suffield, CT | 05/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Hood | Machine Tender 2Nd Shift-Temporary | Suffield, CT | 05/24/2025 | $41,740 |
| Strapworks | Sublimation Machine Tender | Eugene, OR | 05/22/2025 | $31,827 |
| Amcor | Machine Tender 1St. Shift | Mankato, MN | 05/21/2025 | $43,681 |
| Peopleready | Machine Tender | Agawam Town, MA | 05/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| Area Temps, Inc. | Machine Tender | Berea, OH | 03/27/2025 | $33,392 |
| Area Temps, Inc. | Machine Tender | Berea, OH | 02/19/2025 | $33,392 |
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