Machine Operator, 3rd Shift Salary in the United States
How much does a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift in the United States is $53,199 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.
However, a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $65,155
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,193 to $59,457
Key Factors That Influence Machine Operator, 3rd Shift Salaries
A Machine Operator, 3rd Shift'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 Machine Operator, 3rd Shift Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift'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): $41,823
Early Career (1-2 years): $46,480
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $52,738
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $56,670
Expert (over 8 years): $82,335
Levels
Salary
Machine O... Level Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
$41,823
Machine O... Level Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
$46,480
Machine O... Level Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
$52,738
Machine O... Level Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
$56,670
Machine O... Level Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
$82,335
$41,8230 yr
$46,480< 2 yrs
$52,7382-4 yrs
$56,6705-8 yrs
$82,335> 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Machine Operator, 3rd Shift 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 Machine Operator, 3rd Shifts.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $58,901.
California: $58,678.
Massachusetts: $57,896.
District of Columbia$58,901
California$58,678
Massachusetts$57,896
Washington$57,683
New Jersey$57,662
Alaska$57,587
Connecticut$56,853
New York$56,555
Hawaii$55,603
Rhode Island$55,156
Maryland$54,853
Minnesota$54,438
Colorado$54,278
Illinois$54,225
Oregon$54,023
Delaware$53,874
New Hampshire$53,780
Virginia$53,571
Pennsylvania$52,959
Nevada$52,651
North Dakota$52,549
Michigan$52,390
Wisconsin$52,331
Vermont$52,214
Texas$51,890
Maine$51,869
Arizona$51,837
Ohio$51,799
Georgia$51,310
Indiana$51,065
Wyoming$51,017
Utah$50,943
Iowa$50,911
Kansas$50,656
Louisiana$50,581
North Carolina$50,555
Missouri$50,544
Florida$50,336
Montana$50,225
Nebraska$50,118
Kentucky$50,060
South Carolina$49,847
Tennessee$49,714
Idaho$49,661
New Mexico$49,272
Oklahoma$49,187
Alabama$48,873
South Dakota$48,347
Arkansas$48,060
West Virginia$47,905
Mississippi$47,442
Top Paying Cities for Machine Operator, 3rd Shifts
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: $67,099
San Francisco: $66,365
Oakland: $64,966
San Jose, CA$67,099
San Francisco, CA$66,365
Oakland, CA$64,966
New York, NY$61,252
Paramus, NJ$60,507
Queens Village, NY$60,505
Passaic, NJ$60,454
Bergenfield, NJ$60,449
Stamford, CT$60,332
Huntington, NY$60,311
Newark, NJ$59,917
Bridgeport, CT$59,805
Vallejo, CA$59,699
New Brunswick, NJ$59,678
Petaluma, CA$59,646
Middlesex, NJ$59,545
Somerset, NJ$59,508
Santa Cruz, CA$59,439
Boston, MA$59,114
Monterey, CA$58,927
Seattle, WA$58,806
Santa Rosa, CA$58,795
Los Angeles, CA$58,779
Juneau, AK$58,641
Washington, DC$58,582
Orange, CA$58,393
Santa Ana, CA$58,252
Long Beach, CA$58,199
Anaheim, CA$58,189
Anchorage, AK$58,162
Santa Maria, CA$58,002
Everett, WA$57,992
Danbury, CT$57,804
Bremerton, WA$57,731
Tacoma, WA$57,539
New Suffolk, NY$57,538
Sacramento, CA$57,524
Santa Barbara, CA$57,465
Trenton, NJ$57,407
San Diego, CA$57,407
Brockton, MA$57,348
Fairbanks, AK$57,218
Lompoc, CA$57,082
Lowell, MA$57,039
Ventura, CA$57,029
Nashua, NH$57,018
Stockton, CA$57,013
Modesto, CA$56,624
Poughkeepsie, NY$56,507
Olympia, WA$56,406
Kennewick, WA$56,406
New Haven, CT$56,385
Lawrence, MA$56,194
Hartford, CT$56,140
Riverside, CA$56,130
New Bedford, MA$56,077
Richland, WA$56,077
Bakersfield, CA$56,002
San Bernardino, CA$55,981
New Britain, CT$55,975
Atlantic City, NJ$55,975
New London, CT$55,954
Norwich, CT$55,938
Portsmouth, NH$55,928
Boulder, CO$55,815
Portland, OR$55,741
Worcester, MA$55,736
Minneapolis, MN$55,571
Philadelphia, PA$55,497
Honolulu, HI$55,321
Saint Paul, MN$55,296
Vineland, NJ$55,284
Providence, RI$55,130
Chicago, IL$54,975
Bellingham, WA$54,911
Springfield, MA$54,869
Baltimore, MD$54,853
Chico, CA$54,720
Pittsfield, MA$54,576
Manchester, NH$54,475
Spokane, WA$54,241
Denver, CO$54,236
Albany, NY$53,986
Troy, NY$53,965
Nassau, NY$53,908
Schenectady, NY$53,853
Wilmington, DE$53,810
Burlington, VT$53,736
Salem, OR$53,715
Portland, ME$53,550
Yakima, WA$53,496
Rochester, MN$53,331
Reno, NV$53,305
Fresno, CA$53,305
Milwaukee, WI$53,257
Detroit, MI$53,204
Ann Arbor, MI$53,195
Allentown, PA$53,188
Colorado Springs, CO$53,097
Syracuse, NY$53,071
Carson City, NV$53,071
Houston, TX$52,996
Eugene, OR$52,970
Gary, IN$52,906
Springfield, OR$52,863
Bismarck, ND$52,853
Galveston, TX$52,815
Medford, OR$52,736
Fort Collins, CO$52,714
Concord, NH$52,688
Austin, TX$52,672
Mesa, AZ$52,560
Reading, PA$52,555
Phoenix, AZ$52,549
Dallas, TX$52,534
Saint Cloud, MN$52,482
Madison, WI$52,411
Utica, NY$52,268
Rochester, NY$52,182
Des Moines, IA$52,177
Raleigh, NC$52,172
Atlanta, GA$52,092
Battle Creek, MI$52,076
Salt Lake City, UT$52,060
Lancaster, PA$51,980
Harrisburg, PA$51,906
Kansas City, MO$51,853
Champaign, IL$51,842
Kansas City, KS$51,842
Fort Worth, TX$51,837
Columbus, OH$51,828
Boca Raton, FL$51,815
Pittsburgh, PA$51,794
Richmond, VA$51,773
Indianapolis, IN$51,762
Cleveland, OH$51,757
Las Vegas, NV$51,693
Cincinnati, OH$51,693
Petersburg, VA$51,613
Huntsville, AL$51,533
Lansing, MI$51,498
Lebanon, PA$51,491
Pueblo, CO$51,486
Appleton, WI$51,470
Buffalo, NY$51,448
Dayton, OH$51,432
Racine, WI$51,422
Charlotte, NC$51,416
Saint Louis, MO$51,400
York, PA$51,368
Elkhart, IN$51,368
Gastonia, NC$51,358
Billings, MT$51,346
Beaumont, TX$51,331
Lorain, OH$51,321
Benton Harbor, MI$51,310
Toledo, OH$51,299
Binghamton, NY$51,273
Rock Hill, SC$51,267
Rockford, IL$51,241
Springfield, IL$51,220
Elyria, OH$51,214
Fargo, ND$51,214
Flagstaff, AZ$51,177
Fort Lauderdale, FL$51,145
Duluth, MN$51,113
Miami, FL$51,113
Cheyenne, WY$51,076
Grand Forks, ND$51,076
Bangor, ME$50,959
Cedar Rapids, IA$50,900
Durham, NC$50,878
Louisville, KY$50,874
Grand Rapids, MI$50,863
Hialeah, FL$50,858
Casper, WY$50,783
Scranton, PA$50,719
New Orleans, LA$50,703
Virginia Beach, VA$50,698
Akron, OH$50,672
Peoria, IL$50,602
Sarasota, FL$50,592
Nashville, TN$50,555
Omaha, NE$50,555
Green Bay, WI$50,555
Baton Rouge, LA$50,528
Charleston, SC$50,517
Jamestown, NY$50,491
Davenport, IA$50,491
Tucson, AZ$50,464
Saint Petersburg, FL$50,432
Tampa, FL$50,422
Evansville, IN$50,390
Port Arthur, TX$50,390
Bradenton, FL$50,368
Santa Fe, NM$50,273
Orlando, FL$50,177
Clearwater, FL$50,161
Canton, OH$50,049
La Crosse, WI$50,049
Albuquerque, NM$50,017
Newport News, VA$50,012
High Point, NC$49,996
Ogden, UT$49,975
Corpus Christi, TX$49,932
Norfolk, VA$49,900
Laramie, WY$49,900
Rock Island, IL$49,868
Saginaw, MI$49,858
Jacksonville, FL$49,852
Salisbury, NC$49,842
Boise, ID$49,831
Moline, IL$49,804
Fort Myers, FL$49,788
Memphis, TN$49,778
Tulsa, OK$49,751
Waterloo, IA$49,719
Spartanburg, SC$49,666
Lincoln, NE$49,640
Fort Wayne, IN$49,629
Provo, UT$49,624
Cedar Falls, IA$49,560
San Antonio, TX$49,538
Greensboro, NC$49,517
South Bend, IN$49,512
Savannah, GA$49,453
Muskegon, MI$49,432
Birmingham, AL$49,427
Winston Salem, NC$49,401
Lake Charles, LA$49,272
Anderson, IN$49,262
Lexington, KY$49,246
Augusta, GA$49,230
Greenville, SC$49,230
Lima, OH$49,187
Wichita, KS$49,182
Tuscaloosa, AL$49,182
Columbia, SC$49,134
Springfield, OH$49,123
Asheville, NC$49,038
Bloomington, IN$49,001
Knoxville, TN$48,810
Shreveport, LA$48,804
Wilmington, NC$48,735
Roanoke, VA$48,735
Topeka, KS$48,639
Frankfort, KY$48,634
Oklahoma City, OK$48,597
Chillicothe, OH$48,576
Longview, TX$48,570
Melbourne, FL$48,565
Sioux Falls, SD$48,480
Mobile, AL$48,474
Terre Haute, IN$48,453
Altoona, PA$48,421
Amarillo, TX$48,384
Killeen, TX$48,368
Fayetteville, AR$48,326
Chattanooga, TN$48,310
Sioux City, IA$48,262
Idaho Falls, ID$48,251
Lynchburg, VA$48,208
Gainesville, FL$48,139
Portsmouth, OH$48,113
Little Rock, AR$48,102
Lafayette, LA$48,081
Youngstown, OH$48,081
Daytona Beach, FL$48,049
Clarksville, TN$48,044
Pensacola, FL$48,038
Temple, TX$48,035
Hopkinsville, KY$47,879
Erie, PA$47,868
Florence, SC$47,847
Charleston, WV$47,762
Great Falls, MT$47,735
Macon, GA$47,661
Tallahassee, FL$47,655
Fayetteville, NC$47,645
Waco, TX$47,634
Helena, MT$47,597
Pine Bluff, AR$47,576
Vincennes, IN$47,512
Lubbock, TX$47,490
Alamogordo, NM$47,458
Twin Falls, ID$47,411
Rapid City, SD$47,395
Jackson, MS$47,299
Huntington, WV$47,295
Greenville, MS$47,293
Parkersburg, WV$47,239
Montgomery, AL$47,230
Wichita Falls, TX$47,176
Springfield, MO$47,176
Biloxi, MS$47,150
Monroe, LA$47,097
Johnstown, PA$47,059
Sumter, SC$47,038
Columbus, GA$47,033
Pascagoula, MS$46,932
Abilene, TX$46,932
Kingsport, TN$46,793
Albany, GA$46,793
Gulfport, MS$46,777
Alexandria, LA$46,602
Fort Smith, AR$46,469
El Paso, TX$46,325
Las Cruces, NM$46,086
Harlingen, TX$45,951
Pocatello, ID$45,942
Florence, AL$45,873
Brownsville, TX$45,862
Mcallen, TX$45,751
Dothan, AL$45,676
Columbus, MS$45,360
Altus, OK$45,112
Lawton, OK$45,011
Pierre, SD$44,820
What Skills Can Increase a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Commitment (Mentioned in 4.3% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Machine Operation (Mentioned in 3.88% Job Postings): Applying methods and techniques to implement, maintain, repair, design, and update various machines following specific rules to ensure safety.
Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.21% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Commitment
4.3%
Machine Operation
3.88%
Food Safety
2.21%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
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 Machine Operator, 3rd Shift's salary.
Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Standard Operating Procedures: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Analysis
$59,050
11%
Standard Operating Procedures
$56,390
6%
Decision Making
$55,858
5%
Initiative
$55,858
5%
SOP
$55,326
4%
Dedication
$55,326
4%
Get Latest Data
Machine Operator, 3rd Shift Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Machine Operator, 3rd Shift roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Internet and Software & Networking
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average.
In contrast, Machine Operator, 3rd Shift positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Machine Operator, 3rd Shift as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Internet
$85,118
$41.0
60%
Software & Networking
$79,798
$38.0
50%
Financial Services
$74,478
$36.0
40%
How Education impacts a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Machine Operator, 3rd Shifts enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Machine Operator, 3rd Shift with a No Diploma is between
$51,335
and $54,850).
Machine Operator, 3rd Shift Salaries by Degree Level
Understanding how a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift'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
$48,193
Average$53,199/year
$59,457
$4,016
Average$4,433/month
$4,955
$927
Average$1,023/week
$1,143
$23
Average$26/hour
$29
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$59,457
$4,955
$1,143
$29
Average
$53,199
$4,433
$1,023
$26
25th Percentile
$48,193
$4,016
$927
$23
Salaries of jobs related to Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
Salaries for a Machine Operator, 3rd Shift can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $48,541 in 2023
to around $48,079 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Machine Operator, 3rd Shift salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Machine Operator, 3rd Shift Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$48,541
2024
$48,401
2025
$48,079
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$48,541
2024
$48,401
2025
$48,079
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
Here are companies hiring for Machine Operator, 3rd Shift and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Machine Operator, 3rd Shift
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Machine Operator, 3rd Shift?
The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Machine Operator, 3rd Shift roles,
with salaries approximately 60% 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.
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