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Scale operator salary
Average scale operator salary
$15.62
Average Scale Operator Salary
The average annual salary for a Scale Operator is approximately $32,498, which translates to around $16 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors such as location, industry, and years of experience. Scale Operators play a crucial role in ensuring accurate measurements for various industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.
Where Can a Scale Operator Earn More?
To maximize earnings, Scale Operators should consider states like Texas and California, where demand for skilled workers is high. Additionally, working in high-paying industries, such as oil and gas or manufacturing, can significantly increase salary potential.
Job Opportunities
As industries continue to evolve, the need for qualified Scale Operators remains steady. Job seekers can explore openings on platforms like Zippia, which offers a comprehensive job board tailored to various career paths, helping individuals find suitable positions based on their skills and experience.
Let Zippia find your next scale operator job
Let Zippia find your next scale operator job
Where can a Scale Operator earn more?
Scale operator salary estimates from across the web
Average scale operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for scale operators are Alaska, Ohio, and Maine. The lowest average scale operator salary states are Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for scale operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| 2 | Iowa | $35,844 | $17.23 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $34,599 | $16.63 |
| 5 | Alaska | $38,172 | $18.35 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $36,111 | $17.36 |
| 7 | Nevada | $34,426 | $16.55 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $36,177 | $17.39 |
| 9 | Indiana | $33,905 | $16.30 |
| 10 | Maine | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| 11 | Utah | $33,538 | $16.12 |
| 12 | Illinois | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $35,277 | $16.96 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $33,267 | $15.99 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $32,086 | $15.43 |
| 17 | Delaware | $33,542 | $16.13 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $33,336 | $16.03 |
| 19 | Arizona | $33,586 | $16.15 |
| 20 | Washington | $35,638 | $17.13 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $32,304 | $15.53 |
| 22 | California | $35,773 | $17.20 |
| 23 | Kansas | $31,859 | $15.32 |
| 24 | Michigan | $33,297 | $16.01 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $32,904 | $15.82 |
| 26 | Idaho | $33,120 | $15.92 |
| 27 | New York | $32,504 | $15.63 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $33,104 | $15.92 |
| 29 | Montana | $33,924 | $16.31 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $32,739 | $15.74 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $33,115 | $15.92 |
| 32 | Oregon | $33,849 | $16.27 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $33,339 | $16.03 |
| 34 | Virginia | $32,279 | $15.52 |
| 35 | Colorado | $31,898 | $15.34 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $29,930 | $14.39 |
| 37 | Vermont | $33,116 | $15.92 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $31,268 | $15.03 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $31,351 | $15.07 |
| 40 | Maryland | $32,020 | $15.39 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $30,479 | $14.65 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $30,892 | $14.85 |
| 43 | Missouri | $31,551 | $15.17 |
| 44 | Texas | $30,583 | $14.70 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $29,526 | $14.20 |
| 46 | Alabama | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $30,205 | $14.52 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $29,579 | $14.22 |
| 49 | Florida | $27,818 | $13.37 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $28,630 | $13.76 |
| 51 | Georgia | $28,523 | $13.71 |
Highest paying cities for scale operators
The highest-paying cities for scale operators are Cincinnati, OH, Spokane, WA, and Milwaukee, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | $35,592 | $17.11 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $35,549 | $17.09 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| 4 | Council Bluffs, IA | $35,407 | $17.02 |
| 5 | Enterprise, NV | $34,247 | $16.46 |
| 6 | Manassas, VA | $33,291 | $16.01 |
| 7 | Greeley, CO | $32,129 | $15.45 |
| 8 | Topeka, KS | $31,988 | $15.38 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $31,512 | $15.15 |
| 10 | Asheville, NC | $31,093 | $14.95 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $30,586 | $14.70 |
| 12 | Gainesville, GA | $28,809 | $13.85 |
| 13 | Charleston, SC | $28,239 | $13.58 |
| 14 | Gainesville, FL | $27,849 | $13.39 |
Scale operator salary details
A scale operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $43,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a scale operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $32,498 | $2,708 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying scale operator jobs
The highest paying types of scale operators are clerical car checker, freight checker, and weighing station operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale Clerk | $34,249 | $2,854 | $16.47 | 66,543 |
| Forklift Operator | $34,213 | $2,851 | $16.45 | 213,020 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
Top companies hiring scale operators now:
Which companies pay scale operators the most?
Scale operator salaries at Steel Dynamics and BlueScope Steel are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average scale operator salary at companies like Schnitzer Steel and Harsco are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steel Dynamics | $43,273 | $20.80 |
| 2 | BlueScope Steel | $42,693 | $20.53 |
| 3 | Schnitzer Steel | $41,839 | $20.11 |
| 4 | Harsco | $40,490 | $19.47 |
| 5 | MDU Resources | $38,625 | $18.57 |
| 6 | Nucor | $38,258 | $18.39 |
| 7 | American Iron and Steel Institute | $37,993 | $18.27 |
| 8 | Prince William County | $37,114 | $17.84 |
| 9 | Lehigh Hanson | $36,766 | $17.68 |
| 10 | Cargill | $36,618 | $17.60 |
| 11 | Green Plains | $35,733 | $17.18 |
| 12 | ADM | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| 13 | Waste Connections | $34,897 | $16.78 |
| 14 | Ukpeagvik IOoOupiat Corporation | $34,469 | $16.57 |
| 15 | Oldcastle Infrastructure | $33,697 | $16.20 |
| 16 | West Fraser | $33,663 | $16.18 |
| 17 | Waste Pro | $33,546 | $16.13 |
| 18 | The McConnell Group | $33,368 | $16.04 |
| 19 | CMC Motocross | $33,365 | $16.04 |
| 20 | Renovo plc | $33,239 | $15.98 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Scale Operator salary by industry
The average scale operator salary varies across industries:
- The average scale operator salary in the finance industry is $36,217, the highest of any industry.
- The average scale operator salary in the finance industry is $34,309.
- Scale operators in the agriculture industry earn an average salary of $28,513, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for scale operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $36,217 | $17.41 |
| 2 | Construction | $34,309 | $16.49 |
| 3 | Utilities | $32,856 | $15.80 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $30,948 | $14.88 |
| 5 | Agriculture | $28,513 | $13.71 |
High paying scale operator jobs
Scale operator salary trends
The average scale operator salary has risen by $8,211 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average scale operator earned $24,287 annually, but today, they earn $32,498 a year. That works out to a 27% change in pay for scale operators over the last decade.
Compare scale operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average scale operator salary over time
Compare scale operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Scale operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,500 | $15.62 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $31,100 | $14.94 | +7.8% |
| 2023 | $28,600 | $13.77 | +6.6% |
| 2022 | $26,800 | $12.87 | +4.6% |
| 2021 | $25,500 | $12.27 | +0.3% |
Recently added scale operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCC Environmental Services | Scale Operator | Saint Paul, MN | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Cargill, Inc. | Scale Operator-Seasonal | Hickman, KY | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Cassella Waste Systems, Inc. | Scale Operator/Depot Attendant | Montpelier, VT | 06/28/2025 | $35,479 |
| Casella Waste Systems, Inc. | Scale Operator/Depot Attendant | Montpelier, VT | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| CRH Plc | Scale Operator-Crusher/Aggregates | Augusta, ME | 06/27/2025 | $20,870 |
| CRH | Scale Operator | Ione, WA | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Wayne Farms | Scale Operator-1St. Shift | Union Springs, AL | 06/25/2025 | $38,088 |
| CHS, Inc. | Seasonal Scale Operator | Cheyenne Wells, CO | 06/24/2025 | $31,702 |
| Cargill | Scale Operator-Seasonal | West Memphis, AR | 06/21/2025 | $37,566 |
| Cargill, Inc. | Scale Operator-Seasonal | New Madrid, MO | 06/20/2025 | $38,610 |
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