Machine Operator
Machine Operator Salary
$25K - $27K
1% of jobs
$27K - $29K
4% of jobs
$29K - $31K
8% of jobs
$31K - $33K
12% of jobs
$33.1K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$33K - $35K
15% of jobs
The median wage is $36K / yr.
$35K - $37K
20% of jobs
$37K - $39K
14% of jobs
$39.3K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$39K - $41K
11% of jobs
$41K - $43K
7% of jobs
$43K - $45K
6% of jobs
$45K - $47K
3% of jobs
$25K
$37K
$48.5K
$37,827
/year
$18.19
/hour
Machine Operator Salary Comparison by Location
Nationwide
United States
$37,827
Columbus
Ohio
$36,537
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How much does a Machine Operator make?
As of Jun 7, 2026, the average annual pay for a Machine Operator in the United States is $37,827 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $18.19 an hour. This is the equivalent of $727/week or $3,152/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $48,500 and as low as $25,000, the majority of Machine Operator salaries currently range between $34,000 (25th percentile) to $40,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $45,500 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Machine Operator varies little (about 6500), which suggests that regardless of location, there are not many opportunities for increased pay or advancement, even with several years of experience.
A Machine Operator in your area makes on average $36,537 per year, or $1,290 (3.410%) less than the national average annual salary of $37,827. Ohio ranks number 31 out of 50 states nationwide for Machine Operator salaries.
To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Machine Operator jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.
Find your next high paying job as a Machine Operator on ZipRecruiter today.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Machine Operator Jobs
We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Machine Operator job is above the national average. Topping the list is Nome, AK, , with Berkeley, CA, and Redwood City, CA, close behind in the second and third positions. Redwood City, CA, beats the national average by $8,486 (22.4%), and Nome, AK, furthers that trend with another $9,097 (24.0%) above the $37,827 average.
With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Machine Operator appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 5% between Nome, AK, and San Francisco, CA, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Machine Operator role.
City | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Nome, AK | $46,924 | $22.56 |
Berkeley, CA | $46,317 | $22.27 |
Redwood City, CA | $46,313 | $22.27 |
San Carlos, CA | $45,675 | $21.96 |
Sitka, AK | $45,569 | $21.91 |
Bonsall, CA | $45,566 | $21.91 |
South San Francisco, CA | $45,456 | $21.85 |
Holdrege, NE | $45,311 | $21.78 |
Justin, TX | $44,673 | $21.48 |
San Francisco, CA | $44,566 | $21.43 |
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Machine Operator Jobs in the U.S.
We found a few related jobs that pay more than jobs in the Machine Operator category.
For example Machinist Iii jobs pay as much as $15,486 (40.9%) more than the average Machine Operator salary of $37,827. If you're qualified, finding work as a Machinist Iii may help you make more money than that of the average Machine Operator position.
Job Title | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Machinist Iii | $53,313 | $25.63 |
Computer Controlled Machine Tool Operator | $52,407 | $25.20 |
Metal Bending Machine Operator | $44,307 | $21.30 |
Machine Operator Assistant | $38,471 | $18.50 |
Plastic Machine Operator | $33,499 | $16.11 |
About Our Data
ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.
