Salary AI Book a Demo

Assembly/Machine Operator Salary in the United States

How much does an Assembly/Machine Operator make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assembly/Machine Operator in the United States is $41,483 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, an Assembly/Machine Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,894
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $38,320 to $44,839
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $35,441
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Assembly/Machine Operator Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Assembly/Machine Operator Salaries

An Assembly/Machine Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Assembly/Machine Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assembly/Machine Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $40,784
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $45,325
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $51,428
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $55,262
  • Expert (over 8 years): $80,289
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Assembly/Machine Operator less than 1 year $40,784
Machine Operator II 1-2 years $45,325
Machine Operator III 2-4 years $51,428
Machine Operator IV 5-8 years $55,262
Machine Operator Supervisor over 8 years $80,289

How Do Assembly/Machine Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Assembly/Machine Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $45,930.
  • California: $45,756.
  • Massachusetts: $45,146.

Top Paying Cities for Assembly/Machine Operator

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $52,323
  • San Francisco: $51,750
  • Oakland: $50,659

Assembly/Machine Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Assembly/Machine Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Nondurable and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Assembly/Machine Operator positions in MFG Durable or Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Assembly/Machine Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Assembly/Machine Operator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable $56,002 $27.0 35%
Financial Services $53,928 $26.0 30%
Media $51,854 $25.0 25%
Biotechnology $49,780 $24.0 20%
Insurance $47,706 $23.0 15%

How Education impacts an Assembly/Machine Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assembly/Machine Operator professionals enter the field with a high school degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Assembly/Machine Operator with a high school is between $37,041 and $39,424.

Assembly/Machine Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assembly/Machine Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 10.4%
High School 69.8%
Associate's Degree 12.5%
Bachelor's Degree 7.3%
Master's Degree or MBA 0%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 0%
View as Graph

Assembly/Machine Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assembly/Machine Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$38,320
Average $41,483/year
$44,839
$3,193
Average $3,457/month
$3,737
$737
Average $798/week
$862
$18
Average $20/hour
$22
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $44,839 $3,737 $862 $22
Average $41,483 $3,457 $798 $20
25th Percentile $38,320 $3,193 $737 $18

Most common benefits for Assembly/Machine Operator

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Assembly/Machine Operator

Here are companies hiring for Assembly/Machine Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Assembly/Machine Operator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Assembly/Machine Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    27 Days Ago

  • USPS | Columbus, OH

    USPS Postal Workers

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

    1 Month Ago

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Assembly/Machine Operator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Assembly/Machine Operator?

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Assembly/Machine Operator roles, with salaries approximately 35% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst