What are the top 10 cities with the highest pay for Machine Operator?

We've identified 10 cities in Missouri where Machine Operator jobs typically pay above the area average. Topping the list is Imperial (4.6% above average), followed by Manchester and St. Louis. City Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Imperial $37,123 $3,093 $713 $17.85 Manchester $36,796 $3,066 $707 $17.69 St. Louis $36,776 $3,064 $707 $17.68 Saint Louis $36,771 $3,064 $707 $17.68 Maryland Heights $36,553 $3,046 $702 $17.57 Saint Joseph $36,553 $3,046 $702 $17.57 St. Joseph $36,553 $3,046 $702 $17.57 Cape Girardeau $36,387 $3,032 $699 $17.49 Fenton $36,247 $3,020 $697 $17.43 Wright City $36,218 $3,018 $696 $17.41

Machine Operator

Machine Operator Salary in Missouri

Q: How much does a Machine Operator make in Missouri?

The average annual pay for a machine operator in Missouri is $35,482 a year — that works out to approximately $17.06 an hour. That is 6.2% below the national average of $37,827. The middle 80% of Machine Operators earn between $28,609 (10th percentile) and $42,679 (90th percentile) per year, depending on experience and employer.

Q: What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Machine Operator Jobs in Missouri?

We found several jobs related to Machine Operator in Missouri that pay more on average. Topping the list is Machine Operator Assistant at $604 (1.7%) above Machine Operator. Job Title Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Machine Operator Assistant $36,086 $3,007 $693 $17.35 3Rd Shift Machine Operator $35,852 $2,987 $689 $17.24 Overhead Crane Operator $35,395 $2,949 $680 $17.02 Manufacturing Machine Operator $35,232 $2,936 $677 $16.94 Plastic Machine Operator $31,423 $2,618 $604 $15.11

$23.4K

$34.7K

$45.5K

$35,482

/year

$17.06

/hour

Machine Operator Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$37,827

Missouri

$35,482

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How much does a Machine Operator make in Missouri?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average annual pay for a Machine Operator in Missouri is $35,482 a year.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $17.06 an hour. This is the equivalent of $682/week or $2,956/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $45,493 and as low as $23,450, the majority of Machine Operator salaries currently range between $31,900 (25th percentile) to $38,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $42,679 annually in Missouri. The average pay range for a Machine Operator varies little (about 6100), which suggests that regardless of location, there are not many opportunities for increased pay or advancement, even with several years of experience.

Missouri ranks number 50 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 in Missouri

We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Machine Operator job is above the average in Missouri in Missouri. Topping the list is Imperial, , with Manchester, and St. Louis, close behind in the second and third positions. St. Louis, beats the average in Missouri by $1,294 (3.6%), and Imperial, furthers that trend with another $1,641 (4.6%) above the $35,482 average.

With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Missouri, 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 2% between Imperial, and Wright City, , 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	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Imperial	$37,123	$3,093	$713	$17.85
Manchester	$36,796	$3,066	$707	$17.69
St. Louis	$36,776	$3,064	$707	$17.68
Saint Louis	$36,771	$3,064	$707	$17.68
Maryland Heights	$36,553	$3,046	$702	$17.57
Saint Joseph	$36,553	$3,046	$702	$17.57
St. Joseph	$36,553	$3,046	$702	$17.57
Cape Girardeau	$36,387	$3,032	$699	$17.49
Fenton	$36,247	$3,020	$697	$17.43
Wright City	$36,218	$3,018	$696	$17.41

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Machine Operator Jobs in Missouri

Analyzing similar jobs related to the Machine Operator job category in Missouri, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $35482 state average for Machine Operator jobs.

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Machine Operator Assistant	$36,086	$3,007	$693	$17.35
3Rd Shift Machine Operator	$35,852	$2,987	$689	$17.24
Overhead Crane Operator	$35,395	$2,949	$680	$17.02
Manufacturing Machine Operator	$35,232	$2,936	$677	$16.94
Plastic Machine Operator	$31,423	$2,618	$604	$15.11

About Our Data

ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

Infographic detailing Machine Operator salary in Missouri as of August 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $31,900 to $42,679 annually, with the Missouri average at $35,482 per year or $17.06 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in Missouri for Machine Operator jobs, with Imperial leading at $37,123 annually.

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