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Smt operator salary
Average smt operator salary
$16.18
Understanding SMT Operator Salaries
The SMT Operator position plays a critical role in electronics manufacturing, handling the setup and operation of machines that place components on circuit boards. As of October 2025, the average salary for SMT Operators is about $33,647 annually. However, this figure can vary based on numerous factors including geographic location, level of experience, and specific employer.
For instance, SMT Operators in high-demand regions or those with specialized skills often command higher salaries. The highest-paying states for this role tend to include areas with a strong tech presence, such as California and Texas. Additionally, operators with several years of experience may earn significantly more, enhancing their career prospects.
To gain a better understanding of potential earnings, it's wise to explore salary estimates across job boards and company resources. This exploration can provide valuable insights into trends and competitive compensation packages.
Opportunities for Growth
For those considering a career as an SMT Operator, the job market appears promising with various openings available across the country. Continuous training and acquiring relevant certifications can further enhance earning potential and career advancement.
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Where can an SMT Operator earn more?
Smt operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level smt operator | $23,900 | $11.49 |
| Mid-level smt operator | $26,400 | $12.69 |
| Senior-level smt operator | $39,800 | $19.14 |
Smt operator salary estimates from across the web
Average smt operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for smt operators are Washington, New York, and California. The lowest average smt operator salary states are Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for smt operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $38,465 | $18.49 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $38,560 | $18.54 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $37,700 | $18.13 |
| 4 | Nevada | $37,239 | $17.90 |
| 5 | Washington | $43,914 | $21.11 |
| 6 | Ohio | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| 7 | Indiana | $35,201 | $16.92 |
| 8 | Missouri | $37,135 | $17.85 |
| 9 | Iowa | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| 10 | Alaska | $37,417 | $17.99 |
| 11 | New York | $39,543 | $19.01 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $34,808 | $16.73 |
| 13 | Utah | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $37,074 | $17.82 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $37,992 | $18.27 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $37,399 | $17.98 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $36,843 | $17.71 |
| 18 | Montana | $37,051 | $17.81 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $33,926 | $16.31 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $35,552 | $17.09 |
| 21 | Oregon | $36,196 | $17.40 |
| 22 | Vermont | $36,494 | $17.55 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $35,157 | $16.90 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $35,015 | $16.83 |
| 25 | California | $38,997 | $18.75 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $36,896 | $17.74 |
| 27 | Colorado | $37,017 | $17.80 |
| 28 | Maine | $33,990 | $16.34 |
| 29 | Maryland | $38,353 | $18.44 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $33,556 | $16.13 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $32,993 | $15.86 |
| 32 | Texas | $34,104 | $16.40 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $31,966 | $15.37 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $34,664 | $16.67 |
| 35 | Illinois | $34,072 | $16.38 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $33,390 | $16.05 |
| 37 | Arizona | $34,172 | $16.43 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $31,907 | $15.34 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $32,582 | $15.66 |
| 40 | Idaho | $32,645 | $15.69 |
| 41 | Kansas | $32,806 | $15.77 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $31,369 | $15.08 |
| 43 | Michigan | $31,007 | $14.91 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $31,483 | $15.14 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $29,186 | $14.03 |
| 46 | Georgia | $30,912 | $14.86 |
| 47 | Delaware | $32,087 | $15.43 |
| 48 | Alabama | $28,975 | $13.93 |
| 49 | Florida | $30,469 | $14.65 |
| 50 | Virginia | $28,206 | $13.56 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,978 | $12.97 |
Highest paying cities for smt operators
The highest-paying cities for smt operators are Monterey, CA, Oakdale, MN, and Milford, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monterey, CA | $39,612 | $19.04 |
| 2 | Oakdale, MN | $38,515 | $18.52 |
| 3 | Milford, CT | $38,011 | $18.27 |
| 4 | Manchester, NH | $37,737 | $18.14 |
| 5 | Henderson, NV | $37,131 | $17.85 |
| 6 | Longmont, CO | $37,127 | $17.85 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $36,951 | $17.76 |
| 8 | Hillsboro, OR | $36,244 | $17.43 |
| 9 | Mentor, OH | $35,504 | $17.07 |
| 10 | Billerica, MA | $35,101 | $16.88 |
| 11 | Appleton, WI | $34,155 | $16.42 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $33,788 | $16.24 |
| 13 | Tulsa, OK | $33,422 | $16.07 |
| 14 | North Kingstown, RI | $32,994 | $15.86 |
| 15 | Grand Rapids, MI | $31,095 | $14.95 |
| 16 | Largo, FL | $30,620 | $14.72 |
| 17 | Madison, AL | $29,272 | $14.07 |
| 18 | Fayetteville, AR | $27,147 | $13.05 |
Smt operator salary details
An smt operator's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $44,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an smt operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $33,647 | $2,804 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying smt operator jobs
The highest paying types of smt operators are bucket operator, can striper, and multi-skilled operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Utility Worker | $31,692 | $2,641 | $15.24 | 81,054 |
| Production Employee | $32,872 | $2,739 | $15.80 | 75,730 |
| Production Worker | $30,847 | $2,571 | $14.83 | 136,584 |
| Shop Worker | $31,850 | $2,654 | $15.31 | 73,161 |
| Production Line Operator | $33,261 | $2,772 | $15.99 | 155,014 |
| Production Operator | $35,185 | $2,932 | $16.92 | 117,254 |
Top companies hiring smt operators now:
Which companies pay smt operators the most?
Smt operator salaries at Sanmina and IDEAL INDUSTRIES are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average smt operator salary at companies like Amphenol and Magna International are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanmina | $41,426 | $19.92 |
| 2 | IDEAL INDUSTRIES | $39,999 | $19.23 |
| 3 | Amphenol | $37,468 | $18.01 |
| 4 | Magna International | $35,709 | $17.17 |
| 5 | Hayward Pool Products | $35,622 | $17.13 |
| 6 | CyberCoders | $35,276 | $16.96 |
| 7 | Keytronicems | $34,898 | $16.78 |
| 8 | Crown Equipment | $34,895 | $16.78 |
| 9 | NEOTech | $34,523 | $16.60 |
| 10 | Garmin | $34,354 | $16.52 |
| 11 | PLS | $34,222 | $16.45 |
| 12 | Ducommun | $34,009 | $16.35 |
| 13 | VadaTech | $33,893 | $16.29 |
| 14 | Vanguard EMS | $33,812 | $16.26 |
| 15 | Innovative Solutions & Support | $33,770 | $16.24 |
| 16 | Vicor | $33,735 | $16.22 |
| 17 | Nova Biomedical | $33,728 | $16.22 |
| 18 | Coghlin | $33,724 | $16.21 |
| 19 | Jewell Instruments | $33,239 | $15.98 |
| 20 | MacroFab | $33,225 | $15.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Smt operator salary trends
The average smt operator salary has risen by $5,031 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average smt operator earned $28,616 annually, but today, they earn $33,647 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for smt operators over the last decade.
Compare smt operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average smt operator salary over time
Compare smt operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Smt operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,600 | $16.18 | +5.2% |
| 2024 | $31,900 | $15.34 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | $32,300 | $15.53 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $30,900 | $14.87 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | $30,800 | $14.81 | +2.9% |
Recently added smt operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Services | SMT Operator | West Melbourne, FL | 06/27/2025 | $35,583 |
| Butler Technical Group | SMT Operator-2Nd Shift | Oldsmar, FL | 06/26/2025 | $43,827 |
| Custom Manufacturing and Engineering | SMT Programmer/Operator | Pinellas Park, FL | 06/25/2025 | $55,000 |
| Aerotek | SMT Operator | Tempe, AZ | 06/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| Flashpcb | SMT Operator | Philadelphia, PA | 06/19/2025 | $52,175 |
| Sierra Proto Express | SMT Operator | San Jose, CA | 06/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| The Structures Company, LLC | SMT Operator-2Nd Shift | Clearwater, FL | 06/05/2025 | $58,436 |
| American Computer Development | SMT Operator-2Nd Shift | Frederick, MD | 06/04/2025 | $41,740 |
| Key Tronic Corporation | SMT Operator-2Nd Shift | Fayetteville, AR | 05/29/2025 | $34,436 |
| Anchor Audio | SMT Operator (PC Dept) | Carlsbad, CA | 05/24/2025 | $58,500 |
Smt operator salary FAQs
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