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Rewinder operators play a crucial role in the manufacturing sector, where they convert large rolls of materials such as paper, plastics, and textiles into smaller rolls. As of October 2025, the average salary for a rewinder operator stands at $32,404 annually or about $16 per hour. Salary figures can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and industry.
Entry-level rewinder operators typically earn around $28,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $38,000. Additionally, specialized roles within the manufacturing process may offer higher wages, reflecting the demand for skilled operators.
Certain states provide higher average salaries for rewinder operators. For instance, those working in California and New York often see salaries exceeding $40,000 due to the higher cost of living and greater demand for manufacturing jobs.
Many rewinder operators find employment in industries such as packaging and printing. Opportunities continue to grow as companies seek skilled professionals to manage complex machinery and processes.
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The average rewinder operator salary in North Dakota, Colorado, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average rewinder operator salary states are Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $34,284 | $16.48 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $36,876 | $17.73 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $33,699 | $16.20 |
| 5 | Iowa | $34,844 | $16.75 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $41,704 | $20.05 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $34,833 | $16.75 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $33,957 | $16.33 |
| 9 | Indiana | $33,249 | $15.99 |
| 10 | Colorado | $39,283 | $18.89 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $32,721 | $15.73 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $36,219 | $17.41 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $35,382 | $17.01 |
| 14 | New York | $37,635 | $18.09 |
| 15 | Arizona | $34,461 | $16.57 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $35,264 | $16.95 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $33,472 | $16.09 |
| 18 | Ohio | $32,445 | $15.60 |
| 19 | Nevada | $33,676 | $16.19 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $33,197 | $15.96 |
| 21 | Utah | $32,761 | $15.75 |
| 22 | Missouri | $32,968 | $15.85 |
| 23 | Maryland | $36,438 | $17.52 |
| 24 | Illinois | $32,845 | $15.79 |
| 25 | Georgia | $31,825 | $15.30 |
| 26 | Maine | $32,886 | $15.81 |
| 27 | Kansas | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 28 | Montana | $33,149 | $15.94 |
| 29 | Oregon | $33,564 | $16.14 |
| 30 | Michigan | $32,136 | $15.45 |
| 31 | Washington | $33,457 | $16.09 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $31,181 | $14.99 |
| 33 | Delaware | $32,780 | $15.76 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $30,183 | $14.51 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $32,780 | $15.76 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $30,721 | $14.77 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $28,897 | $13.89 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $30,211 | $14.52 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $30,015 | $14.43 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $32,208 | $15.48 |
| 41 | California | $31,690 | $15.24 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $30,599 | $14.71 |
| 43 | Vermont | $30,040 | $14.44 |
| 44 | Florida | $30,621 | $14.72 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $28,725 | $13.81 |
| 46 | Idaho | $30,169 | $14.50 |
| 47 | Alabama | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $29,755 | $14.31 |
| 49 | Virginia | $30,014 | $14.43 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| 51 | Texas | $27,112 | $13.03 |
The highest-paying cities for rewinder operators are Omaha, NE, Des Moines, IA, and Greensboro, NC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha, NE | $36,853 | $17.72 |
| 2 | Des Moines, IA | $34,773 | $16.72 |
| 3 | Greensboro, NC | $34,113 | $16.40 |
| 4 | De Pere, WI | $34,042 | $16.37 |
| 5 | Independence, MO | $33,074 | $15.90 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $32,704 | $15.72 |
| 7 | Napa, CA | $32,170 | $15.47 |
| 8 | Lansing, MI | $32,092 | $15.43 |
| 9 | Carrollton, GA | $31,872 | $15.32 |
| 10 | Rochester, NH | $31,192 | $15.00 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $30,665 | $14.74 |
| 12 | Idaho Falls, ID | $29,802 | $14.33 |
| 13 | Blacksburg, VA | $29,708 | $14.28 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $28,803 | $13.85 |
| 15 | Lewisville, TX | $27,230 | $13.09 |
A rewinder operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $32,404 | $2,700 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of rewinder operators are dock worker/forklift operator, terminal operator, and mill operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Forklift Operator | $34,213 | $2,851 | $16.45 | 213,020 |
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | $36,453 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 168,379 |
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
| Lift Truck Operator | $36,973 | $3,081 | $17.78 | 103,337 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
Top companies hiring rewinder operators now:
Rewinder operator salaries at Crane Co. and Amcor are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average rewinder operator salary at companies like ITT and Lydall are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crane Co. | $39,236 | $18.86 |
| 2 | Amcor | $38,155 | $18.34 |
| 3 | ITT | $36,853 | $17.72 |
| 4 | Lydall, Inc. | $36,488 | $17.54 |
| 5 | WestRock | $35,973 | $17.29 |
| 6 | Schreiner Corporation | $35,766 | $17.20 |
| 7 | McKesson | $35,738 | $17.18 |
| 8 | RRD | $35,283 | $16.96 |
| 9 | Tekni-Plex | $34,635 | $16.65 |
| 10 | Quad | $34,381 | $16.53 |
| 11 | Rx Systems | $33,876 | $16.29 |
| 12 | Belmark | $33,766 | $16.23 |
| 13 | Fortis Solutions Group | $32,765 | $15.75 |
| 14 | Penta Technologies | $32,183 | $15.47 |
| 15 | Workforce Strategies, Inc. | $32,126 | $15.45 |
| 16 | Debbie's Staffing | $31,721 | $15.25 |
| 17 | The Bryce Company Llc | $31,674 | $15.23 |
| 18 | Elwood Staffing | $31,670 | $15.23 |
| 19 | ProMach | $31,645 | $15.21 |
| 20 | Adecco | $31,564 | $15.18 |
The average rewinder operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| 3 | Transportation | $35,255 | $16.95 |
| 4 | Media | $33,115 | $15.92 |
| 5 | Retail | $30,622 | $14.72 |
The average rewinder operator salary has risen by $6,513 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average rewinder operator earned $25,891 annually, but today, they earn $32,404 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for rewinder operators over the last decade.
Compare rewinder operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare rewinder operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,400 | $15.58 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $31,200 | $15.01 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $30,000 | $14.41 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $29,000 | $13.95 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $28,000 | $13.46 | +1.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printpack Holdings | Rewind Operator | Villa Rica, GA | 06/30/2025 | $40,321 |
| Aerotek | Rewinder Operator: Start Asap | Sanford, FL | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Rewind Operator | Birmingham, AL | 06/25/2025 | $33,392 |
| XL Pro Staffing and Consulting Group | Rewinder Operator | Rockwall, TX | 06/24/2025 | $40,175 |
| Fortis Solutions Group | Rewind Operator, 3Rd Shift | Ellington, CT | 06/20/2025 | $35,479 |
| Belmark Inc. | Web-To-Print Rewind Operator-Flexible Packaging-(2ND Shift)-Plant 2 | De Pere, WI | 06/13/2025 | $45,914 |
| Pregis | 2Nd Shift Slitter/Rewinder Operator | Elgin, IL | 06/13/2025 | $45,914 |
| Joining The Belmark Team | Web-To-Print Rewind Operator-Flexible Packaging-(2ND Shift)-Plant 2 | De Pere, WI | 06/12/2025 | $45,914 |
| Accredo Packaging, Inc. | Rewind Operator (Night Shift) | Sugar Land, TX | 06/09/2025 | $29,218 |
| Pregis | Slitter/Rewinder Operator | Carol Stream, IL | 05/27/2025 | $48,001 |
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