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The average salary for a manufacturing assistant is $37,490 annually, translating to approximately $18 per hour. This figure varies by state and experience level. For instance, entry-level positions may start lower, while those with several years of experience could earn significantly more. Understanding these factors is crucial for job seekers looking to maximize their earning potential.
States such as California and Texas often offer higher salaries due to the demand for skilled workers in manufacturing. Additionally, industries like automotive and electronics typically provide better compensation compared to others. By targeting these high-paying regions and sectors, manufacturing assistants can enhance their career prospects and financial rewards.
Explore job openings and salary estimates to find the best fit for your skills and career goals.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level manufacturing assistant | $37,000 | $17.77 |
| Mid-level manufacturing assistant | $46,800 | $22.48 |
| Senior-level manufacturing assistant | $47,400 | $22.78 |
The average manufacturing assistant salary in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average manufacturing assistant salary states are Texas, Tennessee, and New Mexico.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $42,936 | $20.64 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $46,740 | $22.47 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $43,407 | $20.87 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $54,033 | $25.98 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $51,193 | $24.61 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $41,652 | $20.02 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $43,077 | $20.71 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $43,750 | $21.03 |
| 9 | Maine | $41,871 | $20.13 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $39,839 | $19.15 |
| 11 | Michigan | $39,223 | $18.86 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $43,398 | $20.86 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $43,277 | $20.81 |
| 14 | Colorado | $40,435 | $19.44 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $39,055 | $18.78 |
| 16 | Vermont | $41,098 | $19.76 |
| 17 | Kansas | $39,761 | $19.12 |
| 18 | California | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| 19 | Oregon | $38,837 | $18.67 |
| 20 | Washington | $41,660 | $20.03 |
| 21 | Indiana | $36,531 | $17.56 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $36,994 | $17.79 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $44,979 | $21.62 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $38,406 | $18.46 |
| 25 | Arizona | $38,022 | $18.28 |
| 26 | Montana | $39,857 | $19.16 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $35,343 | $16.99 |
| 28 | Ohio | $34,707 | $16.69 |
| 29 | Missouri | $37,542 | $18.05 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $36,081 | $17.35 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $33,973 | $16.33 |
| 32 | Utah | $35,528 | $17.08 |
| 33 | Iowa | $34,910 | $16.78 |
| 34 | New York | $38,984 | $18.74 |
| 35 | Illinois | $37,610 | $18.08 |
| 36 | Alaska | $38,912 | $18.71 |
| 37 | Idaho | $36,914 | $17.75 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $41,837 | $20.11 |
| 39 | Maryland | $37,442 | $18.00 |
| 40 | Delaware | $37,619 | $18.09 |
| 41 | Nevada | $34,344 | $16.51 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $32,873 | $15.80 |
| 43 | Alabama | $31,871 | $15.32 |
| 44 | Virginia | $36,553 | $17.57 |
| 45 | Georgia | $34,659 | $16.66 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $30,647 | $14.73 |
| 47 | Texas | $32,941 | $15.84 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $33,674 | $16.19 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $33,080 | $15.90 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $32,348 | $15.55 |
| 51 | Florida | $28,758 | $13.83 |
The highest-paying cities for manufacturing assistants are Burlington, MA, Hoboken, NJ, and North Kingstown, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington, MA | $46,877 | $22.54 |
| 2 | Hoboken, NJ | $43,518 | $20.92 |
| 3 | North Kingstown, RI | $43,054 | $20.70 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $42,896 | $20.62 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $42,057 | $20.22 |
| 6 | Palo Alto, CA | $41,322 | $19.87 |
| 7 | Longmont, CO | $40,724 | $19.58 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $40,319 | $19.38 |
| 9 | Emporia, KS | $39,734 | $19.10 |
| 10 | Kalamazoo, MI | $38,939 | $18.72 |
| 11 | Lincoln, NE | $38,806 | $18.66 |
| 12 | Bend, OR | $38,544 | $18.53 |
| 13 | Buffalo Grove, IL | $38,055 | $18.30 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $37,592 | $18.07 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $37,526 | $18.04 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $35,614 | $17.12 |
| 17 | Dalton, GA | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $32,947 | $15.84 |
| 19 | Largo, FL | $28,870 | $13.88 |
A manufacturing assistant's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $37,490 | $3,124 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of manufacturing assistants are lead person, lead operator, and leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shop Foreman | $68,171 | $5,681 | $32.77 | 16,599 |
| Lead Person | $105,432 | $8,786 | $50.69 | 87,619 |
| Leader | $86,964 | $7,247 | $41.81 | 172,293 |
| Operations Team Leader | $55,160 | $4,597 | $26.52 | 179,669 |
| Process Operator | $37,996 | $3,166 | $18.27 | 83,478 |
| Lead Operator | $88,429 | $7,369 | $42.51 | 87,338 |
Top companies hiring manufacturing assistants now:
Manufacturing assistant salaries at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Colgate University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average manufacturing assistant salary at companies like Colgate-Palmolive and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $44,625 | $21.45 |
| 2 | Colgate University | $44,502 | $21.40 |
| 3 | Colgate-Palmolive | $42,896 | $20.62 |
| 4 | Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | $41,258 | $19.84 |
| 5 | Ernst & Young | $39,497 | $18.99 |
| 6 | BD | $38,626 | $18.57 |
| 7 | Albany International | $38,475 | $18.50 |
| 8 | Shaw Industries | $38,384 | $18.45 |
| 9 | Parker Hannifin | $37,943 | $18.24 |
| 10 | Beacon Hill Staffing Group | $37,735 | $18.14 |
| 11 | Staffworks Group | $37,574 | $18.06 |
| 12 | Ethan Allen Workforce Solutions | $37,448 | $18.00 |
| 13 | Clarke | $36,993 | $17.79 |
| 14 | Koch Industries | $36,941 | $17.76 |
| 15 | ManpowerGroup | $36,325 | $17.46 |
| 16 | Kelly Services | $36,248 | $17.43 |
| 17 | American Red Cross | $36,084 | $17.35 |
| 18 | Black Box | $35,994 | $17.30 |
| 19 | System One | $35,939 | $17.28 |
| 20 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $35,705 | $17.17 |
The average manufacturing assistant salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $40,669 | $19.55 |
| 2 | Technology | $38,712 | $18.61 |
| 3 | Transportation | $38,598 | $18.56 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $36,605 | $17.60 |
| 5 | Health Care | $35,794 | $17.21 |
The average manufacturing assistant salary has risen by $5,476 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average manufacturing assistant earned $32,014 annually, but today, they earn $37,490 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for manufacturing assistants over the last decade.
Compare manufacturing assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare manufacturing assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,500 | $18.02 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $36,600 | $17.58 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $36,000 | $17.33 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $35,100 | $16.88 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $34,500 | $16.57 | +2.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cpi Card Group | Seasonal Manufacturing Assistant-Weekend Days | Fort Wayne, IN | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| KBI Biopharma Inc. | Manufacturing Assistant I | Durham, NC | 06/27/2025 | $39,131 |
| Curtiss-Wright Corporation | Manufacturing Assistant | Brea, CA | 06/20/2025 | $47,250 |
| Wieland Chase | Manufacturing Assistant I | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | 06/18/2025 | $41,657 |
| Chase Brass | Manufacturing Assistant I | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | 06/18/2025 | $41,657 |
| The Alpha Group | Manufacturing Assistant | Norton, MA | 06/17/2025 | $37,566 |
| Wieland Chase | Manufacturing Assistant | Kent, WA | 06/11/2025 | $45,914 |
| Chase Brass | Manufacturing Assistant | Kent, WA | 05/29/2025 | $45,914 |
| Wieland Chase | Manufacturing Assistant | Kent, WA | 05/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| KBI Biopharma Inc. | Manufacturing Assistant (Nights) | Durham, NC | 05/27/2025 | $39,131 |
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