How much does a Line Operator - 1st make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Line Operator - 1st in the United States is $55,474 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.
However, a Line Operator - 1st's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $65,135
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,273 to $60,531
Key Factors That Influence Line Operator - 1st Salaries
A Line Operator - 1st'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 Line Operator - 1st Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Line Operator - 1st'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:
How Do Line Operator - 1st 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 Line Operator - 1sts. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $61,421.
California: $61,188.
Massachusetts: $60,372.
District of Columbia$61,421
California$61,188
Massachusetts$60,372
Washington$60,150
New Jersey$60,128
Alaska$60,051
Connecticut$59,285
New York$58,974
Hawaii$57,981
Rhode Island$57,515
Maryland$57,199
Minnesota$56,767
Colorado$56,600
Illinois$56,545
Oregon$56,334
Delaware$56,179
New Hampshire$56,081
Virginia$55,862
Pennsylvania$55,224
Nevada$54,903
North Dakota$54,797
Michigan$54,631
Wisconsin$54,570
Vermont$54,448
Texas$54,109
Maine$54,087
Arizona$54,054
Ohio$54,015
Georgia$53,505
Indiana$53,249
Wyoming$53,200
Utah$53,122
Iowa$53,089
Kansas$52,822
Louisiana$52,745
North Carolina$52,717
Missouri$52,706
Florida$52,489
Montana$52,373
Nebraska$52,262
Kentucky$52,201
South Carolina$51,979
Tennessee$51,840
Idaho$51,785
New Mexico$51,380
Oklahoma$51,291
Alabama$50,964
South Dakota$50,415
Arkansas$50,115
West Virginia$49,954
Mississippi$49,472
Top Paying Cities for Line Operator - 1sts
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: $69,969
San Francisco: $69,203
Oakland: $67,745
San Jose, CA$69,969
San Francisco, CA$69,203
Oakland, CA$67,745
New York, NY$63,872
Paramus, NJ$63,096
Queens Village, NY$63,093
Passaic, NJ$63,040
Bergenfield, NJ$63,035
Stamford, CT$62,913
Huntington, NY$62,890
Newark, NJ$62,480
Bridgeport, CT$62,363
Vallejo, CA$62,253
New Brunswick, NJ$62,231
Petaluma, CA$62,197
Middlesex, NJ$62,092
Somerset, NJ$62,053
Santa Cruz, CA$61,981
Boston, MA$61,643
Monterey, CA$61,448
Seattle, WA$61,321
Santa Rosa, CA$61,310
Los Angeles, CA$61,293
Juneau, AK$61,149
Washington, DC$61,088
Orange, CA$60,890
Santa Ana, CA$60,744
Long Beach, CA$60,689
Anaheim, CA$60,677
Anchorage, AK$60,650
Santa Maria, CA$60,483
Everett, WA$60,472
Danbury, CT$60,277
Bremerton, WA$60,200
Tacoma, WA$60,001
New Suffolk, NY$60,000
Sacramento, CA$59,984
Santa Barbara, CA$59,923
Trenton, NJ$59,862
San Diego, CA$59,862
Brockton, MA$59,801
Fairbanks, AK$59,665
Lompoc, CA$59,524
Lowell, MA$59,479
Ventura, CA$59,468
Nashua, NH$59,457
Stockton, CA$59,451
Modesto, CA$59,047
Poughkeepsie, NY$58,924
Olympia, WA$58,819
Kennewick, WA$58,819
New Haven, CT$58,797
Lawrence, MA$58,597
Hartford, CT$58,542
Riverside, CA$58,531
New Bedford, MA$58,475
Richland, WA$58,475
Bakersfield, CA$58,397
San Bernardino, CA$58,375
New Britain, CT$58,370
Atlantic City, NJ$58,370
New London, CT$58,348
Norwich, CT$58,331
Portsmouth, NH$58,320
Boulder, CO$58,202
Portland, OR$58,126
Worcester, MA$58,120
Minneapolis, MN$57,948
Philadelphia, PA$57,870
Honolulu, HI$57,687
Saint Paul, MN$57,661
Vineland, NJ$57,649
Providence, RI$57,488
Chicago, IL$57,327
Bellingham, WA$57,260
Springfield, MA$57,216
Baltimore, MD$57,199
Chico, CA$57,061
Pittsfield, MA$56,911
Manchester, NH$56,805
Spokane, WA$56,561
Denver, CO$56,556
Albany, NY$56,295
Troy, NY$56,273
Nassau, NY$56,213
Schenectady, NY$56,156
Wilmington, DE$56,112
Burlington, VT$56,034
Salem, OR$56,012
Portland, ME$55,840
Yakima, WA$55,785
Rochester, MN$55,613
Reno, NV$55,585
Fresno, CA$55,585
Milwaukee, WI$55,535
Detroit, MI$55,480
Ann Arbor, MI$55,470
Allentown, PA$55,463
Colorado Springs, CO$55,369
Syracuse, NY$55,341
Carson City, NV$55,341
Houston, TX$55,263
Eugene, OR$55,235
Gary, IN$55,169
Springfield, OR$55,125
Bismarck, ND$55,113
Galveston, TX$55,075
Medford, OR$54,991
Fort Collins, CO$54,969
Concord, NH$54,941
Austin, TX$54,925
Mesa, AZ$54,808
Reading, PA$54,803
Phoenix, AZ$54,797
Dallas, TX$54,781
Saint Cloud, MN$54,727
Madison, WI$54,653
Utica, NY$54,503
Rochester, NY$54,414
Des Moines, IA$54,409
Raleigh, NC$54,403
Atlanta, GA$54,320
Battle Creek, MI$54,303
Salt Lake City, UT$54,287
Lancaster, PA$54,204
Harrisburg, PA$54,126
Kansas City, MO$54,071
Champaign, IL$54,059
Kansas City, KS$54,059
Fort Worth, TX$54,054
Columbus, OH$54,044
Boca Raton, FL$54,032
Pittsburgh, PA$54,009
Richmond, VA$53,987
Indianapolis, IN$53,976
Cleveland, OH$53,971
Las Vegas, NV$53,904
Cincinnati, OH$53,904
Petersburg, VA$53,821
Huntsville, AL$53,738
Lansing, MI$53,700
Lebanon, PA$53,693
Pueblo, CO$53,688
Appleton, WI$53,671
Buffalo, NY$53,649
Dayton, OH$53,632
Racine, WI$53,621
Charlotte, NC$53,616
Saint Louis, MO$53,599
York, PA$53,566
Elkhart, IN$53,566
Gastonia, NC$53,555
Billings, MT$53,542
Beaumont, TX$53,527
Lorain, OH$53,516
Benton Harbor, MI$53,505
Toledo, OH$53,494
Binghamton, NY$53,466
Rock Hill, SC$53,460
Rockford, IL$53,433
Springfield, IL$53,410
Elyria, OH$53,405
Fargo, ND$53,405
Flagstaff, AZ$53,366
Fort Lauderdale, FL$53,333
Duluth, MN$53,299
Miami, FL$53,299
Cheyenne, WY$53,261
Grand Forks, ND$53,261
Bangor, ME$53,139
Cedar Rapids, IA$53,078
Durham, NC$53,054
Louisville, KY$53,050
Grand Rapids, MI$53,039
Hialeah, FL$53,033
Casper, WY$52,955
Scranton, PA$52,889
New Orleans, LA$52,872
Virginia Beach, VA$52,867
Akron, OH$52,839
Peoria, IL$52,767
Sarasota, FL$52,756
Nashville, TN$52,717
Omaha, NE$52,717
Green Bay, WI$52,717
Baton Rouge, LA$52,689
Charleston, SC$52,678
Jamestown, NY$52,650
Davenport, IA$52,650
Tucson, AZ$52,623
Saint Petersburg, FL$52,589
Tampa, FL$52,578
Evansville, IN$52,545
Port Arthur, TX$52,545
Bradenton, FL$52,523
Santa Fe, NM$52,423
Orlando, FL$52,323
Clearwater, FL$52,306
Canton, OH$52,190
La Crosse, WI$52,190
Albuquerque, NM$52,157
Newport News, VA$52,151
High Point, NC$52,134
Ogden, UT$52,112
Corpus Christi, TX$52,068
Norfolk, VA$52,035
Laramie, WY$52,035
Rock Island, IL$52,001
Saginaw, MI$51,990
Jacksonville, FL$51,985
Salisbury, NC$51,974
Boise, ID$51,962
Moline, IL$51,935
Fort Myers, FL$51,918
Memphis, TN$51,907
Tulsa, OK$51,879
Waterloo, IA$51,846
Spartanburg, SC$51,791
Lincoln, NE$51,763
Fort Wayne, IN$51,752
Provo, UT$51,746
Cedar Falls, IA$51,680
San Antonio, TX$51,657
Greensboro, NC$51,635
South Bend, IN$51,630
Savannah, GA$51,569
Muskegon, MI$51,546
Birmingham, AL$51,541
Winston Salem, NC$51,514
Lake Charles, LA$51,380
Anderson, IN$51,369
Lexington, KY$51,352
Augusta, GA$51,336
Greenville, SC$51,336
Lima, OH$51,291
Wichita, KS$51,286
Tuscaloosa, AL$51,286
Columbia, SC$51,236
Springfield, OH$51,225
Asheville, NC$51,136
Bloomington, IN$51,097
Knoxville, TN$50,897
Shreveport, LA$50,892
Wilmington, NC$50,820
Roanoke, VA$50,820
Topeka, KS$50,720
Frankfort, KY$50,714
Oklahoma City, OK$50,675
Chillicothe, OH$50,653
Longview, TX$50,648
Melbourne, FL$50,642
Sioux Falls, SD$50,553
Mobile, AL$50,548
Terre Haute, IN$50,526
Altoona, PA$50,492
Amarillo, TX$50,454
Killeen, TX$50,437
Fayetteville, AR$50,393
Chattanooga, TN$50,376
Sioux City, IA$50,326
Idaho Falls, ID$50,315
Lynchburg, VA$50,271
Gainesville, FL$50,198
Portsmouth, OH$50,171
Little Rock, AR$50,160
Lafayette, LA$50,137
Youngstown, OH$50,137
Daytona Beach, FL$50,104
Clarksville, TN$50,099
Pensacola, FL$50,093
Temple, TX$50,089
Hopkinsville, KY$49,927
Erie, PA$49,916
Florence, SC$49,893
Charleston, WV$49,805
Great Falls, MT$49,777
Macon, GA$49,699
Tallahassee, FL$49,694
Fayetteville, NC$49,683
Waco, TX$49,671
Helena, MT$49,633
Pine Bluff, AR$49,612
Vincennes, IN$49,544
Lubbock, TX$49,522
Alamogordo, NM$49,488
Twin Falls, ID$49,438
Rapid City, SD$49,422
Jackson, MS$49,322
Huntington, WV$49,318
Greenville, MS$49,316
Parkersburg, WV$49,260
Montgomery, AL$49,250
Wichita Falls, TX$49,194
Springfield, MO$49,194
Biloxi, MS$49,167
Monroe, LA$49,111
Johnstown, PA$49,072
Sumter, SC$49,050
Columbus, GA$49,045
Pascagoula, MS$48,939
Abilene, TX$48,939
Kingsport, TN$48,795
Albany, GA$48,795
Gulfport, MS$48,778
Alexandria, LA$48,595
Fort Smith, AR$48,457
El Paso, TX$48,307
Las Cruces, NM$48,057
Harlingen, TX$47,916
Pocatello, ID$47,907
Florence, AL$47,835
Brownsville, TX$47,824
Mcallen, TX$47,708
Dothan, AL$47,630
Columbus, MS$47,300
Altus, OK$47,042
Lawton, OK$46,937
Pierre, SD$46,737
What Skills Can Increase a Line Operator - 1st's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 4.69% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
Product Quality (Mentioned in 3.34% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
5S (Mentioned in 1.93% Job Postings): Stands for sort, sustain, set in order, standardized and shine. 5 tips that are designed to achieve clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized workplace for a more systematized work flow.
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Line Operator - 1st's salary.
Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Line Operator - 1st Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Line Operator - 1st roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Line Operator - 1st positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Line Operator - 1st as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Line Operator - 1st
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$72,116
$35.0
30%
Financial Services
$69,342
$33.0
25%
Energy & Utilities
$63,795
$31.0
15%
Insurance
$61,021
$29.0
10%
Business Services
$58,248
$28.0
5%
How Education impacts a Line Operator - 1st's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Line Operator - 1sts enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Line Operator - 1st with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$44,344
and $47,881).
Line Operator - 1st Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Line Operator - 1st'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 September 01, 2026
$50,273
Average$55,474/year
$60,531
$4,189
Average$4,623/month
$5,044
$967
Average$1,067/week
$1,164
$24
Average$27/hour
$29
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$60,531
$5,044
$1,164
$29
Average
$55,474
$4,623
$1,067
$27
25th Percentile
$50,273
$4,189
$967
$24
Salaries of Jobs related to Line Operator - 1st
Paint Line Operator$50,476
Line Operator$45,747
Assistant Canning Line Operator$44,458
Bottling Line Operator$44,012
Assistant Line Operator$43,894
Assembly Line Operator$41,833
Production Line Operator$39,620
Packaging Line Operator$39,514
1st Line Support Engineer$39,449
Canning Line Operator$35,488
Assemble Line, Forklift Operator$34,748
Salary Trends for Line Operator - 1st
Salaries for a Line Operator - 1st can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $45,794 in 2023
to around $44,069 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Line Operator - 1st salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Line Operator - 1st Over Time
$???
$45,794
$44,710
$44,069
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$45,794
2024
$44,710
2025
$44,069
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Line Operator - 1st
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Line Operator - 1st
Here are companies hiring for Line Operator - 1st and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
Find Your Next Line Operator - 1st Job
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FAQ about Line Operator - 1st
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Line Operator - 1st?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Line Operator - 1st roles,
with salaries approximately 30% 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.
