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

We've identified 10 cities in Virginia where Machine Operator jobs typically pay above the area average. Topping the list is Arlington (16.0% above average), followed by Bailey's Crossroads and Alexandria. City Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Arlington $43,518 $3,626 $836 $20.92 Bailey's Crossroads $42,922 $3,576 $825 $20.64 Alexandria $40,486 $3,373 $778 $19.46 Washington $39,881 $3,323 $766 $19.17 Reston $39,353 $3,279 $756 $18.92 Herndon $38,898 $3,241 $748 $18.70 Chantilly $38,727 $3,227 $744 $18.62 Fairfax $38,665 $3,222 $743 $18.59 Powhatan $38,341 $3,195 $737 $18.43 Woodstock $37,827 $3,152 $727 $18.19

Machine Operator

Machine Operator Salary in Virginia

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

The average annual pay for a machine operator in Virginia is $37,502 a year — that works out to approximately $18.03 an hour. That is 0.9% below the national average of $37,827. The middle 80% of Machine Operators earn between $30,238 (10th percentile) and $45,109 (90th percentile) per year, depending on experience and employer.

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

We found several jobs related to Machine Operator in Virginia that pay more on average. Topping the list is Manufacturing Operator at $1,812 (4.8%) above Machine Operator. Job Title Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Manufacturing Operator $39,314 $3,276 $756 $18.90 Machine Operator Assistant $38,141 $3,178 $733 $18.34 Production Machine Operator $37,967 $3,163 $730 $18.25 Overhead Crane Operator $37,411 $3,117 $719 $17.99 Plastic Machine Operator $33,212 $2,767 $638 $15.97

$24.8K

$36.7K

$48.1K

$37,502

/year

$18.03

/hour

Machine Operator Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$37,827

Virginia

$37,502

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How much does a Machine Operator make in Virginia?

As of Aug 5, 2026, the average annual pay for a Machine Operator in Virginia is $37,502 a year.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $18.03 an hour. This is the equivalent of $721/week or $3,125/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $48,083 and as low as $24,786, the majority of Machine Operator salaries currently range between $33,700 (25th percentile) to $40,200 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $45,109 annually in Virginia. 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.

Virginia 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 Virginia

We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Machine Operator job is above the average in Virginia in Virginia. Topping the list is Arlington, , with Bailey's Crossroads, and Alexandria, close behind in the second and third positions. Alexandria, beats the average in Virginia by $2,984 (8.0%), and Arlington, furthers that trend with another $6,016 (16.0%) above the $37,502 average.

With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Virginia, 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 13% between Arlington, and Woodstock, , 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
Arlington	$43,518	$3,626	$836	$20.92
Bailey's Crossroads	$42,922	$3,576	$825	$20.64
Alexandria	$40,486	$3,373	$778	$19.46
Washington	$39,881	$3,323	$766	$19.17
Reston	$39,353	$3,279	$756	$18.92
Herndon	$38,898	$3,241	$748	$18.70
Chantilly	$38,727	$3,227	$744	$18.62
Fairfax	$38,665	$3,222	$743	$18.59
Powhatan	$38,341	$3,195	$737	$18.43
Woodstock	$37,827	$3,152	$727	$18.19

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

Analyzing similar jobs related to the Machine Operator job category in Virginia, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $37502 state average for Machine Operator jobs.

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Manufacturing Operator	$39,314	$3,276	$756	$18.90
Machine Operator Assistant	$38,141	$3,178	$733	$18.34
Production Machine Operator	$37,967	$3,163	$730	$18.25
Overhead Crane Operator	$37,411	$3,117	$719	$17.99
Plastic Machine Operator	$33,212	$2,767	$638	$15.97

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 Virginia as of July 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $33,700 to $45,109 annually, with the Virginia average at $37,502 per year or $18.03 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in Virginia for Machine Operator jobs, with Arlington leading at $43,518 annually.

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