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The average salary for a sorter is around $31,465 annually or $15 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on geographic location, industry, and the level of experience. For instance, sorters working in the logistics and warehousing sectors often earn higher wages than those in retail settings.
In states like California and New York, sorters can expect increased salaries, sometimes reaching up to $40,000 per year. Understanding state-specific salary ranges can empower job seekers to target locations that offer better compensation.
Online salary estimates reveal that experience level significantly impacts earnings. Entry-level positions may start at $25,000, while those with several years in the field can earn upwards of $35,000, especially in larger companies or those requiring specialized skills.
Many sorting jobs are available across various sectors, including logistics, retail, and manufacturing. Prospective employees should explore job boards and company websites to find roles that match their skills and salary expectations.
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The average sorter salary in Vermont, Alaska, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average sorter salary states are Georgia, Alabama, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $38,455 | $18.49 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $36,482 | $17.54 |
| 3 | Indiana | $36,203 | $17.41 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $37,913 | $18.23 |
| 5 | Montana | $35,859 | $17.24 |
| 6 | Kansas | $36,279 | $17.44 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $35,477 | $17.06 |
| 8 | Vermont | $39,885 | $19.18 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $34,164 | $16.43 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $34,416 | $16.55 |
| 11 | Iowa | $33,909 | $16.30 |
| 12 | Nevada | $35,081 | $16.87 |
| 13 | Ohio | $32,687 | $15.71 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $35,357 | $17.00 |
| 15 | Alaska | $38,882 | $18.69 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $33,900 | $16.30 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $32,314 | $15.54 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $32,134 | $15.45 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $34,852 | $16.76 |
| 20 | Washington | $36,023 | $17.32 |
| 21 | Delaware | $34,542 | $16.61 |
| 22 | New York | $35,209 | $16.93 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $33,593 | $16.15 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $32,087 | $15.43 |
| 25 | Utah | $33,935 | $16.31 |
| 26 | Maryland | $34,632 | $16.65 |
| 27 | Arizona | $31,714 | $15.25 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $33,566 | $16.14 |
| 29 | California | $33,720 | $16.21 |
| 30 | Colorado | $33,809 | $16.25 |
| 31 | Michigan | $30,424 | $14.63 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $29,866 | $14.36 |
| 33 | Illinois | $31,675 | $15.23 |
| 34 | Oregon | $33,286 | $16.00 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $30,334 | $14.58 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $30,424 | $14.63 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $32,252 | $15.51 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $31,582 | $15.18 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $31,543 | $15.16 |
| 40 | Idaho | $29,213 | $14.04 |
| 41 | Missouri | $30,761 | $14.79 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $29,939 | $14.39 |
| 43 | Georgia | $29,113 | $14.00 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $31,644 | $15.21 |
| 45 | Alabama | $28,952 | $13.92 |
| 46 | Virginia | $29,832 | $14.34 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $28,428 | $13.67 |
| 48 | District of Columbia | $30,996 | $14.90 |
| 49 | Texas | $28,443 | $13.67 |
| 50 | Florida | $25,940 | $12.47 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $27,490 | $13.22 |
The highest-paying cities for sorters are Portland, ME, Grand Forks, ND, and Kansas City, KS.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | $38,534 | $18.53 |
| 2 | Grand Forks, ND | $36,809 | $17.70 |
| 3 | Kansas City, KS | $36,612 | $17.60 |
| 4 | Tacoma, WA | $36,086 | $17.35 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $35,840 | $17.23 |
| 6 | Buffalo, NY | $35,711 | $17.17 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $35,474 | $17.05 |
| 8 | Wellesley, MA | $35,391 | $17.01 |
| 9 | Enfield, CT | $35,072 | $16.86 |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $34,085 | $16.39 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,999 | $16.35 |
| 12 | Broomfield, CO | $33,996 | $16.34 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $33,289 | $16.00 |
| 14 | Covington, KY | $33,021 | $15.88 |
| 15 | Easton, PA | $32,742 | $15.74 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $32,117 | $15.44 |
| 17 | Elk Grove Village, IL | $31,909 | $15.34 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $31,708 | $15.24 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $31,005 | $14.91 |
| 20 | Murfreesboro, TN | $29,900 | $14.38 |
Sorters are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A sorter's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,465 | $2,622 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of sorters are poultry grader, potato inspector, and potato grader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package Handler | $32,785 | $2,732 | $15.76 | 93,831 |
| Grader | $32,225 | $2,685 | $15.49 | 674 |
Top companies hiring sorters now:
Sorter salaries at Steel Dynamics and Seneca Foods are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sorter salary at companies like Jubilee Ministries and Cargill are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steel Dynamics | $41,991 | $20.19 |
| 2 | Seneca Foods | $40,971 | $19.70 |
| 3 | Jubilee Ministries | $39,795 | $19.13 |
| 4 | Cargill | $38,932 | $18.72 |
| 5 | SRI Surgical Express | $38,594 | $18.55 |
| 6 | UPS | $38,537 | $18.53 |
| 7 | Chewy | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| 8 | Lydall, Inc. | $37,708 | $18.13 |
| 9 | Campbells | $37,372 | $17.97 |
| 10 | Waste Connections | $37,296 | $17.93 |
| 11 | FedEx | $37,135 | $17.85 |
| 12 | Harsco | $36,724 | $17.66 |
| 13 | Waste Management | $36,485 | $17.54 |
| 14 | MacLean-Fogg | $35,413 | $17.03 |
| 15 | Amazon | $35,313 | $16.98 |
| 16 | WestRock | $35,305 | $16.97 |
| 17 | Staples | $35,287 | $16.96 |
| 18 | Gordon Food Service | $35,245 | $16.94 |
| 19 | Unifrax | $34,862 | $16.76 |
| 20 | Freedom Graphic Systems | $34,809 | $16.74 |
The average sorter salary has risen by $10,191 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sorter earned $21,274 annually, but today, they earn $31,465 a year. That works out to a 25% change in pay for sorters over the last decade.
Compare sorter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare sorter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,500 | $15.13 | +9.0% |
| 2024 | $28,600 | $13.76 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | $27,200 | $13.10 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $26,000 | $12.51 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $25,100 | $12.07 | +6.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W M Holdings Inc. | Sorter | Dallas, TX | 06/29/2025 | $34,331 |
| Greenwaste Recovery LLC | Sorter | San Jose, CA | 06/29/2025 | $45,914 |
| Hellofresh | Warehouse Sorters | Schiller Park, IL | 06/29/2025 | $38,610 |
| Hellofresh | Sorter | Fairfield, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $40,697 |
| Waste Management | Sorter | Dallas, TX | 06/28/2025 | $34,331 |
| Aerotek | Sorter | Cary, IL | 06/28/2025 | $44,766 |
| 48Forty Solutions | Pallet Sorter | Indianapolis, IN | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| 48Forty Solutions | RPC Sorter | Northlake, TX | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Dnata Usa | Warehouse Mail Sorter | Grand Rapids, MI | 06/27/2025 | $40,488 |
| Dnata Usa | Warehouse Mail Sorter | Rochester, NY | 06/27/2025 | $43,347 |
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