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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Technical Machine Operator in the United States is approximately $33,812 annually, translating to about $16.26 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific industry.
The salary for technical machine operators can differ significantly across states. For instance, states with high demand for manufacturing roles often offer higher wages. Exploring local job boards can provide insights into which areas are currently hiring. Additionally, operators with specialized skills or certifications tend to command higher salaries.
Entry-level technical machine operators may start at a lower salary, typically around $30,000, while those with extensive experience or managerial roles can earn upwards of $50,000. It’s crucial for job seekers to consider their career trajectory and seek opportunities for advancement.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level technical machine operator | $25,700 | $12.35 |
| Mid-level technical machine operator | $32,800 | $15.76 |
| Senior-level technical machine operator | $39,800 | $19.15 |
The highest-paying states for technical machine operators are North Dakota, Minnesota, and Rhode Island. The lowest average technical machine operator salary states are New Mexico, Florida, and Louisiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $40,743 | $19.59 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $42,426 | $20.40 |
| 3 | Iowa | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| 4 | Maine | $38,245 | $18.39 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $35,196 | $16.92 |
| 6 | Kansas | $37,939 | $18.24 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $36,289 | $17.45 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $37,365 | $17.96 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $35,356 | $17.00 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $38,676 | $18.59 |
| 11 | Ohio | $35,143 | $16.90 |
| 12 | Vermont | $35,092 | $16.87 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $38,257 | $18.39 |
| 14 | Maryland | $35,958 | $17.29 |
| 15 | Delaware | $36,315 | $17.46 |
| 16 | Alaska | $34,599 | $16.63 |
| 17 | Missouri | $35,196 | $16.92 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $35,264 | $16.95 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $36,222 | $17.41 |
| 20 | Oregon | $36,539 | $17.57 |
| 21 | Illinois | $34,032 | $16.36 |
| 22 | Idaho | $35,261 | $16.95 |
| 23 | Indiana | $31,888 | $15.33 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $32,432 | $15.59 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $33,434 | $16.07 |
| 26 | Montana | $32,860 | $15.80 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $31,276 | $15.04 |
| 28 | Georgia | $32,221 | $15.49 |
| 29 | New York | $35,103 | $16.88 |
| 30 | Nevada | $32,262 | $15.51 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $31,277 | $15.04 |
| 32 | California | $35,939 | $17.28 |
| 33 | Michigan | $31,126 | $14.96 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $30,874 | $14.84 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $31,149 | $14.98 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $31,001 | $14.90 |
| 38 | Texas | $30,833 | $14.82 |
| 39 | Washington | $33,219 | $15.97 |
| 40 | Virginia | $33,391 | $16.05 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $29,467 | $14.17 |
| 42 | Utah | $30,772 | $14.79 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $29,546 | $14.20 |
| 44 | Arizona | $31,217 | $15.01 |
| 45 | Colorado | $28,645 | $13.77 |
| 46 | Florida | $28,496 | $13.70 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $28,573 | $13.74 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $20,552 | $9.88 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,875 | $13.40 |
| 50 | Alabama | $26,085 | $12.54 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $26,784 | $12.88 |
The highest-paying cities for technical machine operators are Minot, ND, Blaine, MN, and Northampton, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minot, ND | $42,786 | $20.57 |
| 2 | Blaine, MN | $40,877 | $19.65 |
| 3 | Northampton, MA | $38,316 | $18.42 |
| 4 | Hazleton, PA | $36,971 | $17.77 |
| 5 | Burlington, IA | $36,454 | $17.53 |
| 6 | Westlake, OH | $36,388 | $17.49 |
| 7 | Paramus, NJ | $35,604 | $17.12 |
| 8 | Burlington, VT | $35,105 | $16.88 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $34,791 | $16.73 |
| 10 | Saint Charles, IL | $34,178 | $16.43 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $33,345 | $16.03 |
| 12 | Bowling Green, KY | $32,037 | $15.40 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $31,478 | $15.13 |
| 14 | Rock Hill, SC | $31,407 | $15.10 |
| 15 | Gallatin, TN | $31,382 | $15.09 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $30,688 | $14.75 |
| 17 | Evansville, IN | $30,630 | $14.73 |
| 18 | Conway, AR | $29,433 | $14.15 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | $28,709 | $13.80 |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $28,602 | $13.75 |
A technical machine operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| Average | $33,812 | $2,818 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of technical machine operators are relief operator, machines technician, and mill operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machines Technician | $39,754 | $3,313 | $19.11 | 106,175 |
| Molder Operator | $31,707 | $2,642 | $15.24 | 66,217 |
| Assembly Operator | $31,928 | $2,661 | $15.35 | 87,293 |
| Saw Operator | $32,319 | $2,693 | $15.54 | 58,465 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Cell Operator | $37,866 | $3,155 | $18.20 | 66,532 |
Top companies hiring technical machine operators now:
Technical machine operator salaries at Blue Diamond Growers and The Clorox Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average technical machine operator salary at companies like Henkel and Golden State Foods are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Diamond Growers | $44,210 | $21.25 |
| 2 | The Clorox Company | $42,098 | $20.24 |
| 3 | Henkel | $39,672 | $19.07 |
| 4 | Golden State Foods | $38,682 | $18.60 |
| 5 | Sonoco | $38,423 | $18.47 |
| 6 | NOV | $38,286 | $18.41 |
| 7 | Ericsson | $38,059 | $18.30 |
| 8 | Eaton | $37,987 | $18.26 |
| 9 | Plastipak | $37,841 | $18.19 |
| 10 | Tyson Foods | $37,541 | $18.05 |
| 11 | WestRock | $37,434 | $18.00 |
| 12 | Litehouse Foods | $37,358 | $17.96 |
| 13 | Pactiv | $37,044 | $17.81 |
| 14 | Mueller Water Products | $36,949 | $17.76 |
| 15 | MeadWestvaco | $36,944 | $17.76 |
| 16 | Blue Origin | $36,325 | $17.46 |
| 17 | The Coca-Cola Company | $36,287 | $17.45 |
| 18 | Tenneco | $35,157 | $16.90 |
| 19 | Amazon | $34,395 | $16.54 |
| 20 | Honeywell | $34,264 | $16.47 |
The average technical machine operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $35,834 | $17.23 |
| 2 | Automotive | $35,569 | $17.10 |
| 3 | Technology | $34,748 | $16.71 |
| 4 | Retail | $32,206 | $15.48 |
The average technical machine operator salary has risen by $7,272 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average technical machine operator earned $26,540 annually, but today, they earn $33,812 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for technical machine operators over the last decade.
Compare technical machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare technical machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,800 | $16.26 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $32,100 | $15.43 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $31,200 | $15.02 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $30,400 | $14.62 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $29,300 | $14.09 | +4.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clasen Quality Chocolate, Inc. | Machine Operator/Technician | Milton, WI | 06/29/2025 | $50,088 |
| Staffmark Group | Machine Technician and Sewer Operator | Chattanooga, TN | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Kelly Services | Machine Operator With Technical Skills | Monroe, NC | 06/26/2025 | $33,392 |
| Hearth & Home Technologies | Machine Technician/Operator-2Nd Shift (M-TH) | Nore, MN | 06/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| Triumvirate Environmental | Technician Machine Operator (2ND Shift) | Jeannette, PA | 06/18/2025 | $39,653 |
| JBT Corporation | Machine Operator/Assembly Technician (Temp-1St. Shift) | Middletown, OH | 06/12/2025 | $35,479 |
| Cook Medical | Machine Operator-Cook Polymere Technologies-All Shifts Available | Canton, IL | 06/12/2025 | $33,392 |
| Beneficial Talent Source | Technology Machine Operator-1St. Shift | Hilliard, OH | 06/12/2025 | $35,479 |
| Cook Group | Machine Operator-Cook Polymere Technologies-All Shifts Available | Canton, IL | 06/11/2025 | $33,392 |
| Aerotek | Cleanroom Technician/Machine Operator | Irvine, CA | 05/23/2025 | $39,590 |
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