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A Plant Technical Specialist plays a crucial role in ensuring operational efficiency within manufacturing environments. According to recent data, the average salary stands at $52,228 annually, or about $25 per hour. However, this figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and specific industries.
For instance, professionals in states like California and Texas often report higher salaries due to the demand for skilled technical specialists in their thriving industries. Additionally, cities such as San Francisco and Houston offer some of the most lucrative opportunities, often exceeding the national average.
Experience also plays a vital role in salary determination. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while specialists with several years of experience can command salaries significantly above the average. By analyzing salary data by experience level, job seekers can better understand their potential earnings and make informed decisions about their career paths.
To maximize earning potential, consider pursuing roles that require specialized skills or certifications, as these often lead to higher salaries and better job prospects. Whether you're entering the field or seeking advancement, understanding these dynamics is crucial for career development.
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The average plant technical specialist salary in Alaska, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average plant technical specialist salary states are Alabama, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $58,108 | $27.94 |
| 2 | Colorado | $58,882 | $28.31 |
| 3 | Alaska | $65,561 | $31.52 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $54,520 | $26.21 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $56,042 | $26.94 |
| 6 | Nevada | $54,295 | $26.10 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $63,373 | $30.47 |
| 8 | Michigan | $55,124 | $26.50 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $59,486 | $28.60 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $58,500 | $28.13 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $62,974 | $30.28 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $51,981 | $24.99 |
| 13 | Vermont | $57,193 | $27.50 |
| 14 | New York | $53,412 | $25.68 |
| 15 | Maryland | $60,846 | $29.25 |
| 16 | Ohio | $52,124 | $25.06 |
| 17 | Oregon | $58,056 | $27.91 |
| 18 | Montana | $56,813 | $27.31 |
| 19 | California | $62,264 | $29.93 |
| 20 | Delaware | $53,377 | $25.66 |
| 21 | Illinois | $51,288 | $24.66 |
| 22 | Washington | $57,178 | $27.49 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $48,568 | $23.35 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $49,687 | $23.89 |
| 25 | Idaho | $52,892 | $25.43 |
| 26 | Indiana | $47,739 | $22.95 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $56,502 | $27.16 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $45,784 | $22.01 |
| 29 | Georgia | $47,916 | $23.04 |
| 30 | Iowa | $45,083 | $21.67 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $46,146 | $22.19 |
| 32 | Maine | $47,729 | $22.95 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $54,216 | $26.07 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $44,537 | $21.41 |
| 35 | Kansas | $44,958 | $21.61 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $51,983 | $24.99 |
| 37 | Florida | $46,047 | $22.14 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $45,739 | $21.99 |
| 39 | Missouri | $45,663 | $21.95 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $45,071 | $21.67 |
| 41 | Virginia | $49,349 | $23.73 |
| 42 | Texas | $42,875 | $20.61 |
| 43 | Utah | $45,477 | $21.86 |
| 44 | Arizona | $45,627 | $21.94 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $40,136 | $19.30 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $42,866 | $20.61 |
| 47 | Alabama | $42,440 | $20.40 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $39,565 | $19.02 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $41,512 | $19.96 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $39,287 | $18.89 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $36,540 | $17.57 |
The highest-paying cities for plant technical specialists are San Francisco, CA, Cambridge, MA, and Denver, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $66,105 | $31.78 |
| 2 | Cambridge, MA | $62,953 | $30.27 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $58,938 | $28.34 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $57,733 | $27.76 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $57,639 | $27.71 |
| 6 | Novi, MI | $55,142 | $26.51 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $54,310 | $26.11 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $53,429 | $25.69 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $50,478 | $24.27 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,953 | $24.02 |
| 11 | Springfield, IL | $49,636 | $23.86 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $49,073 | $23.59 |
| 13 | Elkhart, IN | $48,864 | $23.49 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $48,838 | $23.48 |
| 15 | Knoxville, TN | $47,403 | $22.79 |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | $46,325 | $22.27 |
| 17 | Logan, UT | $45,897 | $22.07 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $45,633 | $21.94 |
| 19 | Waterloo, IA | $45,483 | $21.87 |
| 20 | Casa Grande, AZ | $45,382 | $21.82 |
A plant technical specialist's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $52,228 | $4,352 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
The highest paying types of plant technical specialists are technical specialist, specialist, and plant technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundsman | $33,013 | $2,751 | $15.87 | 3,486 |
| Ground Worker | $29,875 | $2,490 | $14.36 | 33,720 |
| Ground Crew | $33,390 | $2,782 | $16.05 | 64,779 |
| Yard Worker | $32,628 | $2,719 | $15.69 | 63,408 |
| Gardener | $32,912 | $2,743 | $15.82 | 5,411 |
| Keeper | $33,606 | $2,800 | $16.16 | 3,285 |
Top companies hiring plant technical specialists now:
Plant technical specialist salaries at Flagship Pioneering and Xcel Energy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average plant technical specialist salary at companies like MidAmerican Energy and Latham Pool are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flagship Pioneering | $64,218 | $30.87 |
| 2 | Xcel Energy | $61,614 | $29.62 |
| 3 | MidAmerican Energy | $60,322 | $29.00 |
| 4 | Latham Pool | $57,698 | $27.74 |
| 5 | United States Steel | $56,859 | $27.34 |
| 6 | Alere | $56,333 | $27.08 |
| 7 | The University of Kansas Health System | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| 8 | Hyundai Securities | $55,209 | $26.54 |
| 9 | Acme Smoked Fish | $55,043 | $26.46 |
| 10 | Rio Tinto | $54,121 | $26.02 |
| 11 | Abbott | $53,495 | $25.72 |
| 12 | The Pattie Group | $52,868 | $25.42 |
| 13 | Inland Metal | $52,635 | $25.31 |
| 14 | Western Exterminator | $52,182 | $25.09 |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin System | $50,203 | $24.14 |
| 16 | City of Richmond | $49,412 | $23.76 |
| 17 | Ambius | $49,373 | $23.74 |
| 18 | University of Tennessee | $47,808 | $22.98 |
| 19 | State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc | $46,810 | $22.50 |
| 20 | State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission | $44,434 | $21.36 |
The average plant technical specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $65,971 | $31.72 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $56,482 | $27.15 |
| 3 | Construction | $51,543 | $24.78 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $47,282 | $22.73 |
| 5 | Retail | $44,527 | $21.41 |
The average plant technical specialist salary has risen by $13,695 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average plant technical specialist earned $38,533 annually, but today, they earn $52,228 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for plant technical specialists over the last decade.
Compare plant technical specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare plant technical specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,200 | $25.11 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $50,100 | $24.09 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $47,700 | $22.95 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $45,500 | $21.90 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | $43,300 | $20.83 | +4.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rentokil Initial | Plant Care Specialist | Kent, WA | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| Michael Baker Engineering Inc. | Invasive/Exotic Plant Management Specialist (Hybrid) | Asheville, NC | 06/20/2025 | $85,613 |
| Rentokil Initial | Plant Care Specialist | Barrington, IL | 06/19/2025 | $29,218 |
| Insight Global | Utility Plant Specialist | Richmond, VA | 06/18/2025 | $50,088 |
| Rite-Hite | In-Plant Specialist | Yorba Linda, CA | 06/14/2025 | $70,000 |
| RNA Rentokil North America | Plant Care Specialist | Des Plaines, IL | 06/12/2025 | $29,218 |
| Campbell's | Plant Sanitation Specialist-Days | Richmond, UT | 06/06/2025 | $45,914 |
| RNA Rentokil North America | Plant Care Specialist | Kent, WA | 06/05/2025 | $39,653 |
| Campbell Soup Co | Plant Sanitation Specialist-Days | Richmond, UT | 06/04/2025 | $45,914 |
| Campbell Arnott | Plant Sanitation Specialist-Days | Richmond, UT | 06/04/2025 | $45,914 |
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