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The average salary for a Sorting Machine Operator in the United States is $30,183 per year, or about $15 per hour. However, this figure can fluctuate based on factors such as location, experience, and the industry in which one is employed. For instance, sorting machine operators in manufacturing often earn higher wages compared to those in retail.
Geographic location plays a significant role in salary variations. States such as Texas and California consistently offer higher salaries due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled labor. Cities like Los Angeles and New York also rank among the highest-paying locations.
Sorting machine operators can find positions in various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. With the growth of e-commerce, there’s a rising demand for sorting machine operators in warehouses and fulfillment centers. This trend indicates a positive job outlook for individuals entering this field.
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The average sorting machine operator salary in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average sorting machine operator salary states are Kentucky, Texas, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $32,370 | $15.56 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $29,518 | $14.19 |
| 3 | Vermont | $32,510 | $15.63 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $31,462 | $15.13 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $28,676 | $13.79 |
| 6 | Maine | $31,029 | $14.92 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $28,103 | $13.51 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $29,867 | $14.36 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $28,763 | $13.83 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $27,739 | $13.34 |
| 11 | Michigan | $27,827 | $13.38 |
| 12 | New York | $31,032 | $14.92 |
| 13 | Oregon | $29,797 | $14.33 |
| 14 | Ohio | $26,582 | $12.78 |
| 15 | Nevada | $28,713 | $13.80 |
| 16 | Utah | $27,808 | $13.37 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $28,253 | $13.58 |
| 18 | Washington | $29,263 | $14.07 |
| 19 | California | $30,517 | $14.67 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $28,684 | $13.79 |
| 21 | Indiana | $25,588 | $12.30 |
| 22 | Alaska | $25,756 | $12.38 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $26,886 | $12.93 |
| 24 | Delaware | $27,604 | $13.27 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $27,542 | $13.24 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $27,542 | $13.24 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $24,202 | $11.64 |
| 28 | Maryland | $28,108 | $13.51 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $25,515 | $12.27 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $24,934 | $11.99 |
| 31 | Colorado | $27,494 | $13.22 |
| 32 | Idaho | $26,701 | $12.84 |
| 33 | Kansas | $24,888 | $11.97 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $24,381 | $11.72 |
| 35 | Iowa | $23,989 | $11.53 |
| 36 | Illinois | $24,772 | $11.91 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $26,128 | $12.56 |
| 38 | Montana | $26,072 | $12.53 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $22,934 | $11.03 |
| 40 | Arizona | $24,823 | $11.93 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $23,380 | $11.24 |
| 42 | Missouri | $23,932 | $11.51 |
| 43 | Georgia | $23,582 | $11.34 |
| 44 | Virginia | $25,773 | $12.39 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $23,946 | $11.51 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $21,678 | $10.42 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $21,204 | $10.19 |
| 48 | Florida | $23,050 | $11.08 |
| 49 | Alabama | $21,227 | $10.21 |
| 50 | Texas | $21,945 | $10.55 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $20,337 | $9.78 |
The highest-paying cities for sorting machine operators are Saratoga Springs, NY, South Windsor, CT, and Concord, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saratoga Springs, NY | $31,846 | $15.31 |
| 2 | South Windsor, CT | $31,644 | $15.21 |
| 3 | Concord, CA | $31,301 | $15.05 |
| 4 | Wilkes-Barre, PA | $28,922 | $13.90 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $27,540 | $13.24 |
| 6 | Mundelein, IL | $25,080 | $12.06 |
| 7 | Gallatin, TN | $24,410 | $11.74 |
| 8 | Tulsa, OK | $23,935 | $11.51 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $21,826 | $10.49 |
A sorting machine operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| Average | $30,183 | $2,515 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of sorting machine operators are postal service mail processor, mail processing equipment mechanic, and centrifugal operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mail Processing | $38,655 | $3,221 | $18.58 | 39,778 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Pack Machine Operator | $35,157 | $2,930 | $16.90 | 68,876 |
| Assembling Machine Operator | $31,275 | $2,606 | $15.04 | 87,253 |
| Machine Operator | $32,874 | $2,740 | $15.80 | 96,834 |
Top companies hiring sorting machine operators now:
Sorting machine operator salaries at PepsiCo and Broadridge are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sorting machine operator salary at companies like SWD and Stanley Black & Decker are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PepsiCo | $39,064 | $18.78 |
| 2 | Broadridge | $35,166 | $16.91 |
| 3 | SWD | $33,835 | $16.27 |
| 4 | Stanley Black & Decker | $33,092 | $15.91 |
| 5 | MacLean-Fogg | $31,749 | $15.26 |
| 6 | Kelly Services | $30,203 | $14.52 |
| 7 | ITW | $30,002 | $14.42 |
| 8 | Rehrig Pacific | $29,216 | $14.05 |
| 9 | Resource One Credit Union | $28,693 | $13.79 |
| 10 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $28,493 | $13.70 |
| 11 | 48forty Solutions | $27,801 | $13.37 |
| 12 | reLogistics Services, LLC | $27,791 | $13.36 |
| 13 | Hearst | $24,961 | $12.00 |
The average sorting machine operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $30,802 | $14.81 |
| 2 | Professional | $28,670 | $13.78 |
| 3 | Media | $28,343 | $13.63 |
| 4 | Transportation | $28,179 | $13.55 |
| 5 | Retail | $26,707 | $12.84 |
The average sorting machine operator salary has risen by $34 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sorting machine operator earned $30,149 annually, but today, they earn $30,183 a year. That works out to a -5% change in pay for sorting machine operators over the last decade.
Compare sorting machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare sorting machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,200 | $14.51 | -13.2% |
| 2024 | $34,200 | $16.42 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $33,400 | $16.05 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $32,500 | $15.64 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $31,900 | $15.35 | -0.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resource One | Production Sorter/Machine Operator | Tulsa, OK | 06/29/2025 | $29,218 |
| 48Forty Solutions | Pallet Sorter Machine Operator | Northlake, TX | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| MacLean-Fogg | Operator, Sorting Machine-2Nd Shift | Mundelein, IL | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| Rehrig Pacific Company | Pallet Sorting Machine Operator-Afternoon Shift | Grove City, OH | 06/12/2025 | $38,610 |
| Medline | Machine Operator I-Sorting (Swing) | Redmond, OR | 06/06/2025 | $35,479 |
| Resource One | 1St. Shift Production Sorter/Machine Operator | Tulsa, OK | 05/31/2025 | $29,218 |
| 48Forty Solutions | Warehouse Labor-Pallet Sorter Machine Operator | DeSoto, TX | 04/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| 48Forty Solutions | Warehouse Labor-Pallet Sorter Machine Operator | Lakeland, FL | 04/28/2025 | $35,479 |
| Resource One | 1St. Shift Production Sorter/Machine Operator | Tulsa, OK | 04/24/2025 | $29,218 |
| Swd | Sorting Machine Operator-3Rd Shift | Addison, IL | 04/20/2025 | $40,697 |
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