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Plastic machine operator salary
Average plastic machine operator salary
$15.29
Average Plastic Machine Operator Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Plastic Machine Operator in the United States is estimated at $31,802 annually, or approximately $15 per hour. Compensation can vary based on factors such as geographic location, experience, and specific industry. For instance, operators with more experience typically earn higher wages, reflecting their expertise and skill level.
Where Can a Plastic Machine Operator Earn More?
Some states and cities offer significantly higher salaries for plastic machine operators. For example, operators in California and New York often see salaries exceeding the national average due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled workers. Understanding the regional salary differences can help job seekers target their applications effectively.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions may start around $28,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can earn up to $38,000 or more, depending on their skills and the complexity of the machinery they operate. This wage progression underscores the importance of gaining experience and seeking additional training or certifications.
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Where can a Plastic Machine Operator earn more?
Plastic machine operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level plastic machine operator | $23,500 | $11.30 |
| Mid-level plastic machine operator | $36,700 | $17.66 |
| Senior-level plastic machine operator | $39,000 | $18.76 |
Average plastic machine operator salary by state
The average plastic machine operator salary in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average plastic machine operator salary states are Maryland, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for plastic machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $43,391 | $20.86 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $36,573 | $17.58 |
| 3 | Oregon | $40,088 | $19.27 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $36,464 | $17.53 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $33,418 | $16.07 |
| 6 | Washington | $40,004 | $19.23 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $33,420 | $16.07 |
| 8 | Idaho | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| 9 | Utah | $34,662 | $16.66 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $34,684 | $16.68 |
| 12 | Maine | $35,030 | $16.84 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $36,308 | $17.46 |
| 14 | Nevada | $36,041 | $17.33 |
| 15 | Indiana | $32,028 | $15.40 |
| 16 | Illinois | $32,998 | $15.86 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $32,364 | $15.56 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $29,922 | $14.39 |
| 19 | Colorado | $34,579 | $16.62 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $32,720 | $15.73 |
| 21 | Vermont | $32,361 | $15.56 |
| 22 | Ohio | $28,868 | $13.88 |
| 23 | California | $35,026 | $16.84 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $29,831 | $14.34 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $32,374 | $15.56 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $29,922 | $14.39 |
| 27 | Iowa | $29,390 | $14.13 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $29,081 | $13.98 |
| 29 | Michigan | $28,905 | $13.90 |
| 30 | Delaware | $31,622 | $15.20 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $31,694 | $15.24 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $28,616 | $13.76 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $28,827 | $13.86 |
| 34 | Alabama | $29,081 | $13.98 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $28,879 | $13.88 |
| 36 | Missouri | $29,238 | $14.06 |
| 37 | Virginia | $31,694 | $15.24 |
| 38 | Arizona | $28,951 | $13.92 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $28,702 | $13.80 |
| 40 | Montana | $29,755 | $14.31 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $27,869 | $13.40 |
| 42 | Georgia | $27,269 | $13.11 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $27,974 | $13.45 |
| 44 | Texas | $28,758 | $13.83 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $24,490 | $11.77 |
| 46 | Kansas | $23,765 | $11.43 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $24,128 | $11.60 |
| 48 | New York | $28,203 | $13.56 |
| 49 | Maryland | $27,098 | $13.03 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $23,859 | $11.47 |
| 51 | Florida | $22,202 | $10.67 |
Highest paying cities for plastic machine operators
The highest-paying cities for plastic machine operators are Vancouver, WA, Lodi, CA, and Layton, UT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver, WA | $40,498 | $19.47 |
| 2 | Lodi, CA | $35,754 | $17.19 |
| 3 | Layton, UT | $34,649 | $16.66 |
| 4 | Schaumburg, IL | $33,307 | $16.01 |
| 5 | Wentzville, MO | $29,202 | $14.04 |
| 6 | Sterling Heights, MI | $28,993 | $13.94 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $28,892 | $13.89 |
| 8 | Longview, TX | $28,186 | $13.55 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $27,705 | $13.32 |
| 10 | Knoxville, TN | $24,570 | $11.81 |
Plastic machine operator salary details
A plastic machine operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $40,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a plastic machine operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $31,802 | $2,650 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying plastic machine operator jobs
The highest paying types of plastic machine operators are cell operator, press machine operator, and welder-machine operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly Operator | $31,928 | $2,661 | $15.35 | 87,293 |
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
| Press Brake Operator | $36,359 | $3,030 | $17.48 | 57,264 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Molder Operator | $31,707 | $2,642 | $15.24 | 66,217 |
| Extrusion Operator | $36,571 | $3,048 | $17.58 | 58,622 |
Top companies hiring plastic machine operators now:
Which companies pay plastic machine operators the most?
Plastic machine operator salaries at Dart Container and Landscape Structures are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average plastic machine operator salary at companies like The Manufacturers' Association and Southco are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dart Container | $35,061 | $16.86 |
| 2 | Landscape Structures | $34,431 | $16.55 |
| 3 | The Manufacturers' Association | $34,239 | $16.46 |
| 4 | Southco | $34,167 | $16.43 |
| 5 | Expert Staffing | $33,939 | $16.32 |
| 6 | Pacific Coast Building Products | $33,771 | $16.24 |
| 7 | Snelling | $33,652 | $16.18 |
| 8 | Remedy Intelligent Staffing | $32,821 | $15.78 |
| 9 | Hawthorne Gardening | $32,028 | $15.40 |
| 10 | Staffworks Group | $31,919 | $15.35 |
| 11 | The Advance Group | $31,837 | $15.31 |
| 12 | ProMach | $31,619 | $15.20 |
| 13 | PADNOS | $31,494 | $15.14 |
| 14 | ManpowerGroup | $31,130 | $14.97 |
| 15 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $31,104 | $14.95 |
| 16 | Adecco | $30,671 | $14.75 |
| 17 | Greene Tweed | $30,666 | $14.74 |
| 18 | Peoplelink Staffing Solutions | $28,921 | $13.90 |
| 19 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $27,493 | $13.22 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Plastic Machine Operator salary by industry
The average plastic machine operator salary varies across industries:
- The average plastic machine operator salary in the manufacturing industry is $34,995, the highest of any industry.
- The average plastic machine operator salary in the finance industry is $32,815.
- Plastic machine operators in the professional industry earn an average salary of $30,669, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for plastic machine operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $34,995 | $16.82 |
| 2 | Transportation | $32,815 | $15.78 |
| 3 | Retail | $32,559 | $15.65 |
| 4 | Professional | $30,669 | $14.74 |
High paying plastic machine operator jobs
Plastic machine operator salary trends
The average plastic machine operator salary has risen by $4,439 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average plastic machine operator earned $27,363 annually, but today, they earn $31,802 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for plastic machine operators over the last decade.
Compare plastic machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average plastic machine operator salary over time
Compare plastic machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Plastic machine operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,800 | $15.29 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $30,900 | $14.84 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $30,200 | $14.54 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $29,900 | $14.36 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $29,300 | $14.08 | +3.7% |
Recently added plastic machine operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape Structures | Plasticwood Operator-2Nd Shift | Delano, MN | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Partnered Staffing | Plastic Machine Operator | Saint Charles, MO | 06/10/2025 | $24,835 |
| Landscape Structures | Plasticwood Operator | Delano, MN | 05/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Luttrell Staffing Group | Plastics Thermoforming Machine Operator | Maryville, TN | 05/21/2025 | $35,479 |
| Carris Reels Group | Plastic Machine Operator Weekend | McKinney, TX | 05/08/2025 | $33,809 |
| Luttrell Staffing Group | Plastics Thermoforming Machine Operator | Maryville, TN | 04/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Pactiv Evergreen Inc. | Operator Plastic I | Burley, ID | 04/28/2025 | $41,886 |
| Marmon Group | 2Nd Shift Operator Wilbert Plastic Services | White Bear Lake, MN | 04/28/2025 | $39,444 |
| Partnered Staffing | Plastic Machine Operator | Saint Charles, MO | 04/28/2025 | $24,835 |
| Madison | Machine Operator-Plastic Manufacturing | DeForest, WI | 04/20/2025 | $41,740 |
Plastic machine operator salary FAQs
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