What are the main factors that influence a Machine Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Machine Operator's salary?

A Machine Operator's salary grows with experience: starting around $43,863 for beginners, reaching about $45,328 at mid-level, and approach $47,795 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Machine Operator?

Machine Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Machine Operator roles are District of Columbia $49,943, California $49,754, Massachusetts $49,091. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Machine Operator roles make?

Salaries for Machine Operator level roles vary by specialization: Machine Operator IV: $65,152; Senior Machine Operator: $51,570; Machine Operator III: $51,565; Machine Operator II: $45,469; Machine Operator I: $40,919.

Machine Operator Salary in Delaware

How much does a Machine Operator make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Machine Operator in Delaware is $45,681 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,837
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,267 to $50,473
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,248

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Machine Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$50,473	$4,206	$971	$24
Average	$45,681	$3,807	$878	$22
25th Percentile	$41,267	$3,439	$794	$20

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Check out Machine Operator Job Openings in Delaware

Machine Operator

Aerotek - Wilmington, DE

Machine Operator

Owen Steel Company Inc. - Wilmington, DE

2nd Shift Machine Operator

Oldcastle APG, Inc. - Rehoboth Beach, DE

Machine Operator (Starting Rate: $23.78/hr)

My Food and Family - Dover, DE

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Key Factors That Influence Machine Operator Salaries

A 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Machine Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 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): $43,863
Early Career (1-2 years): $43,996
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $45,328
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $47,090
Expert (over 8 years): $47,795

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Machine Operator	$43,863
Intermediate Level Machine Operator	$43,996
Senior Level Machine Operator	$45,328
Specialist Level Machine Operator	$47,090
Expert Level Machine Operator	$47,795

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How Do 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 Machine Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $49,943.
California: $49,754.
Massachusetts: $49,091.

District of Columbia $49,943 California $49,754 Massachusetts $49,091 Washington $48,910 New Jersey $48,892 Alaska $48,829 Connecticut $48,207 New York $47,954

Hawaii $47,147 Rhode Island $46,768 Maryland $46,511 Minnesota $46,159 Colorado $46,023 Illinois $45,978 Oregon $45,807 Delaware $45,681

New Hampshire $45,601 Virginia $45,423 Pennsylvania $44,905 Nevada $44,643 North Dakota $44,557 Michigan $44,422 Wisconsin $44,372 Vermont $44,273

Texas $43,998 Maine $43,980 Arizona $43,953 Ohio $43,921 Georgia $43,506 Indiana $43,299 Wyoming $43,258 Utah $43,195

Iowa $43,168 Kansas $42,952 Louisiana $42,888 North Carolina $42,866 Missouri $42,857 Florida $42,681 Montana $42,586 Nebraska $42,496

Kentucky $42,446 South Carolina $42,266 Tennessee $42,153 Idaho $42,108 New Mexico $41,779 Oklahoma $41,707 Alabama $41,440 South Dakota $40,994

Arkansas $40,750 West Virginia $40,619 Mississippi $40,227

Top Paying Cities for Machine Operators

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:

Lincoln: $47,277
Little Creek: $46,840
Magnolia: $47,034

Lincoln, DE $47,277 Little Creek, DE $46,840 Magnolia, DE $47,034 Milford, DE $47,277 Marydel, DE $46,664 Millsboro, DE $47,277 Millville, DE $47,593 Milton, DE $47,277

Nassau, DE $47,277 Ocean View, DE $47,593 Rehoboth Beach, DE $47,593 Seaford, DE $46,781 Selbyville, DE $47,593 Smyrna, DE $46,610 Viola, DE $47,034 Woodside, DE $46,898

Bear, DE $46,267 Newark, DE $46,285 Claymont, DE $46,321 Delaware City, DE $46,285 Hockessin, DE $46,321 Kirkwood, DE $46,285 Middletown, DE $46,515 Montchanin, DE $46,321

New Castle, DE $46,321 Odessa, DE $46,578 Port Penn, DE $46,159 Rockland, DE $46,321 Saint Georges, DE $46,285 Townsend, DE $46,511 Winterthur, DE $46,321 Lewes, DE $47,277

Wilmington, DE $46,321 Dover, DE $46,817 Dover Afb, DE $46,926 Bethany Beach, DE $47,593 Bethel, DE $46,781 Bridgeville, DE $47,277 Camden Wyoming, DE $46,867 Cheswold, DE $46,709

Clayton, DE $46,592 Dagsboro, DE $47,593 Delmar, DE $46,781 Ellendale, DE $47,277 Felton, DE $47,277 Fenwick Island, DE $47,593 Frankford, DE $47,593 Frederica, DE $47,277

Georgetown, DE $47,277 Greenwood, DE $47,277 Harbeson, DE $47,277 Harrington, DE $47,277 Hartly, DE $46,569 Houston, DE $47,277 Kenton, DE $46,592 Laurel, DE $46,781

Yorklyn, DE $46,321

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

Understanding how a 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$41,267

Average $45,681/year

$50,473

$3,439

Average $3,807/month

$4,206

$794

Average $878/week

$971

$20

Average $22/hour

$24

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$50,473	$4,206	$971	$24
Average	$45,681	$3,807	$878	$22
25th Percentile	$41,267	$3,439	$794	$20

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