Manufacturing Associate I Salary in the United States

How much does a Manufacturing Associate I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Manufacturing Associate I in the United States is $43,634 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.

However, a Manufacturing Associate I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $52,253
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $40,169 to $48,146
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,014
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View as table View as graph 25% $40,169 10% $37,014 90% $52,253 75% $48,146 $43,634 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Manufacturing Associate I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $48,146 $4,012 $926 $23
Average $43,634 $3,636 $839 $21
25th Percentile $40,169 $3,347 $772 $19
Check out Manufacturing Associate I Job Openings in the United States
Manufacturing Associate 1

Hyperion Materials & Technologies - Columbus, OH

Manufacturing Associate 1

Nesco Resource - Columbus, OH

Food Manufacturing Production Associate 1st Shift

Donatos Pizza - Columbus, OH

Search More Manufacturing Associate I Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Manufacturing Associate I Salaries

A Manufacturing Associate I'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 Manufacturing Associate I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Manufacturing Associate I'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): $43,302
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,459
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $61,181
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $91,753
  • Expert (over 8 years): $101,450
Levels Salary
Manufactu... Level Manufacturing Associate I$43,302
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate I$51,459
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate I$61,181
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate I$91,753
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate I$101,450
$43,302 0 yr
$51,459 < 2 yrs
$61,181 2-4 yrs
$91,753 5-8 yrs
$101,450 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Manufacturing Associate Is

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: $55,035
  • San Francisco: $54,433
  • Oakland: $53,286

What Skills Can Increase a Manufacturing Associate I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Communication Skills (Mentioned in 4.8% Job Postings): Communication skills are your ability to share or understand information, ideas, and feelings successfully.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 2.48% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • Purchasing (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations. Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement”, since procurement typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and transportation and logistics (T&L) in addition to purchasing.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Communication Skills 4.8%
Continuous Improvement 2.48%
Purchasing 1.64%
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 Manufacturing Associate I's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 36%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Production Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
$59,342
36%
Process Improvement
$53,233
22%
Production Planning
$52,797
21%
MRP
$52,797
21%
Supply Chain
$52,361
20%
Analysis
$51,924
19%
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Manufacturing Associate I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Manufacturing Associate I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Manufacturing Associate positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Manufacturing Associate I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Manufacturing Associate I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$52,361$25.020%
Internet$52,361$25.020%
Software & Networking$52,361$25.020%
Biotechnology$50,179$24.015%
Healthcare$50,179$24.015%

How Education impacts a Manufacturing Associate I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Manufacturing Associate Is 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 Manufacturing Associate I with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $45,578 and $48,929).

Manufacturing Associate I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Manufacturing Associate I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.3%
High School 38.2%
Associates 22.8%
Bachelors 30.9%
Masters 4.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Manufacturing Associate I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Manufacturing Associate I'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Manufacturing Associate I

Salaries for a Manufacturing Associate I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $41,929 in 2023 to around $39,155 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Manufacturing Associate I salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Manufacturing Associate I Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$41,929
2024
$40,344
2025
$39,155
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $41,929
2024 $40,344
2025 $39,155
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Manufacturing Associate I

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Manufacturing Associate I

Here are companies hiring for Manufacturing Associate I and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Manufacturing Associate I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Manufacturing Associate I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    3 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    3 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    9 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    11 Days Ago

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FAQ about Manufacturing Associate I

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Manufacturing Associate I?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Manufacturing Associate I roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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