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Milker salary
Average milker salary
$14.59
Understanding Milker Salaries
The position of a Milker plays a crucial role in dairy farming, impacting both milk quality and the overall productivity of the farm. According to recent data, the average salary for a milker in the United States is approximately $30,339 annually. This figure can fluctuate significantly depending on various factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific employer.
For instance, milkers in states such as California or Wisconsin often see higher pay due to the demand for dairy products. Additionally, those who specialize in advanced milking techniques or work in larger operations may command higher wages. The industry offers a range of job opportunities, from entry-level positions to more specialized roles, allowing individuals to progress in their careers.
Where to Find Milker Jobs
Job seekers can explore numerous platforms, including Zippia, to find milker job openings tailored to their skills and preferences. By staying informed about wage trends and industry needs, candidates can make educated decisions about their career paths in the dairy sector.
Let Zippia find your next milker job
Let Zippia find your next milker job
Where can a Milker earn more?
Milker salary estimates from across the web
Average milker salary by state
The highest-paying states for milkers are Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island. The lowest average milker salary states are Arkansas, Montana, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for milkers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $39,497 | $18.99 |
| 2 | Maine | $39,031 | $18.76 |
| 3 | New York | $37,783 | $18.16 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $38,054 | $18.30 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $37,496 | $18.03 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $35,544 | $17.09 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $34,212 | $16.45 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $31,363 | $15.08 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $28,493 | $13.70 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $28,628 | $13.76 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $32,689 | $15.72 |
| 12 | Ohio | $28,973 | $13.93 |
| 13 | Michigan | $28,842 | $13.87 |
| 14 | Delaware | $30,278 | $14.56 |
| 15 | Georgia | $28,336 | $13.62 |
| 16 | Kansas | $27,471 | $13.21 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $28,011 | $13.47 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $28,465 | $13.69 |
| 19 | Missouri | $27,057 | $13.01 |
| 20 | Nevada | $27,446 | $13.20 |
| 21 | Texas | $27,329 | $13.14 |
| 22 | Maryland | $28,489 | $13.70 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $26,569 | $12.77 |
| 24 | Florida | $26,514 | $12.75 |
| 25 | Washington | $25,597 | $12.31 |
| 26 | Idaho | $23,756 | $11.42 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $25,330 | $12.18 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $27,769 | $13.35 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $24,677 | $11.86 |
| 30 | Arizona | $25,802 | $12.40 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $30,051 | $14.45 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $24,835 | $11.94 |
| 33 | Utah | $24,553 | $11.80 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $24,188 | $11.63 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $24,076 | $11.57 |
| 36 | Oregon | $24,095 | $11.58 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $22,877 | $11.00 |
| 38 | Illinois | $24,798 | $11.92 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $23,693 | $11.39 |
| 40 | Alabama | $23,067 | $11.09 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $23,634 | $11.36 |
| 42 | Montana | $21,941 | $10.55 |
| 43 | California | $25,755 | $12.38 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $22,080 | $10.62 |
| 45 | Virginia | $23,574 | $11.33 |
| 46 | Iowa | $22,100 | $10.63 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $21,678 | $10.42 |
| 48 | Colorado | $22,457 | $10.80 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $21,109 | $10.15 |
| 50 | Indiana | $21,054 | $10.12 |
| 51 | Alaska | $20,962 | $10.08 |
Highest paying cities for milkers
The highest-paying cities for milkers are Philadelphia, PA, Ray, MI, and Beaver City, NE.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,593 | $15.19 |
| 2 | Ray, MI | $30,192 | $14.52 |
| 3 | Beaver City, NE | $28,512 | $13.71 |
| 4 | McCook, NE | $28,508 | $13.71 |
| 5 | Dexter, NM | $28,381 | $13.64 |
| 6 | Clovis, NM | $28,311 | $13.61 |
| 7 | Louisville, GA | $28,274 | $13.59 |
| 8 | Brownfield, TX | $27,647 | $13.29 |
| 9 | Syracuse, KS | $27,532 | $13.24 |
| 10 | Lakin, KS | $27,526 | $13.23 |
| 11 | Rexford, KS | $27,493 | $13.22 |
| 12 | Stephenville, TX | $27,314 | $13.13 |
| 13 | Yantis, TX | $27,197 | $13.08 |
| 14 | Mabank, TX | $27,183 | $13.07 |
| 15 | Canton, TX | $27,182 | $13.07 |
| 16 | Carthage, MO | $27,039 | $13.00 |
| 17 | Sturgeon Bay, WI | $26,793 | $12.88 |
| 18 | Lee, FL | $26,619 | $12.80 |
| 19 | Webster, FL | $26,555 | $12.77 |
| 20 | Okeechobee, FL | $26,508 | $12.74 |
Milker salary details
A milker's salary ranges from $13,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a milker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $30,339 | $2,528 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $20,000 | $1,667 | $10 |
| 10th Percentile | $13,000 | $1,083 | $6 |
Highest paying milker jobs
The highest paying types of milkers are rider, shepherd, and wrangler.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranch Hand | $27,569 | $2,297 | $13.25 | 4,309 |
| Farm Labour | $26,720 | $2,227 | $12.85 | 25,319 |
| Farm Hand | $26,594 | $2,216 | $12.79 | 9,890 |
| Groom | $30,872 | $2,573 | $14.84 | 9,302 |
| Farm Worker | $26,598 | $2,217 | $12.79 | 25,368 |
| Wrangler | $34,274 | $2,856 | $16.48 | 176 |
Top companies hiring milkers now:
Which companies pay milkers the most?
Milker salaries at University of Wisconsin System and Cargill are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average milker salary at companies like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Braum's are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin System | $40,898 | $19.66 |
| 2 | Cargill | $40,821 | $19.63 |
| 3 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | $29,954 | $14.40 |
| 4 | Braum's | $29,079 | $13.98 |
| 5 | Chappell Farms | $26,437 | $12.71 |
| 6 | Full Circle Farm, Inc. | $26,295 | $12.64 |
| 7 | Calstar Inc | $26,295 | $12.64 |
| 8 | Huron-Clinton Metroparks | $25,503 | $12.26 |
| 9 | Lakeview Farms | $25,049 | $12.04 |
| 10 | Metroparks Toledo | $24,946 | $11.99 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Milker salary by industry
The average milker salary varies across industries:
- The average milker salary in the finance industry is $40,793, the highest of any industry.
- The average milker salary in the finance industry is $29,834.
- Milkers in the agriculture industry earn an average salary of $26,587, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for milkers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $40,793 | $19.61 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $29,834 | $14.34 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $28,703 | $13.80 |
| 4 | Technology | $26,809 | $12.89 |
| 5 | Agriculture | $26,587 | $12.78 |
High paying milker jobs
Milker salary trends
The average milker salary has risen by $7,322 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average milker earned $23,017 annually, but today, they earn $30,339 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for milkers over the last decade.
Compare milker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average milker salary over time
Compare milker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Milker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $30,300 | $14.59 | +4.5% |
| 2025 | $29,000 | $13.93 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | $27,700 | $13.30 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $26,500 | $12.75 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $25,500 | $12.28 | +3.1% |
Recently added milker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State University of New York at Cobleskill | Temporary Dairy Milker/Laborer-Suny Cobleskill | Cobleskill, NY | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Cornell University | Quality Milk Sample Courier | Ithaca, NY | 06/22/2025 | $44,244 |
| Braum's Inc. | Milker | Tuttle, OK | 06/10/2025 | $37,044 |
| Braum's Inc. | Milker | Tuttle, OK | 05/29/2025 | $37,044 |
| State University of New York at Cobleskill | Temporary Dairy Milker/Laborer-Suny Cobleskill | Cobleskill, NY | 05/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Huron-Clinton Metroparks | Farm Maintenance-Milker | Ray, MI | 05/08/2025 | $32,766 |
| Metroparks | Farm Maintenance-Milker | Ray, MI | 05/08/2025 | $32,766 |
| Braum's | Milker | Tuttle, OK | 04/27/2025 | $34,436 |
| Washington State University | Milker-Knott Dairy Center | Pullman, WA | 04/27/2025 | $35,532 |
| State University of New York at Cobleskill | Temporary Dairy Milker/Laborer-Suny Cobleskill | Cobleskill, NY | 04/16/2025 | $41,740 |
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