Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator Salary in the United States

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

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator in the United States is $55,801 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $65,512
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,567 to $60,884
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,801
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View as table View as graph 25% $50,567 10% $45,801 90% $65,512 75% $60,884 $55,801 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $60,884 $5,074 $1,171 $29
Average $55,801 $4,650 $1,073 $27
25th Percentile $50,567 $4,214 $972 $24
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Key Factors That Influence Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator Salaries

A Manufacturing Associate 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 Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Manufacturing Associate 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): $43,382
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $55,427
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $61,876
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $68,361
  • Expert (over 8 years): $65,724
Levels Salary
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator$43,382
Manufactu... Level Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator$55,427
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator$61,876
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator$68,361
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator$65,724
$43,382 0 yr
$55,427 < 2 yrs
$61,876 2-4 yrs
$68,361 5-8 yrs
$65,724 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $61,783.
  • California: $61,549.
  • Massachusetts: $60,728.

Top Paying Cities for Manufacturing Associate 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:

  • San Jose: $70,382
  • San Francisco: $69,690
  • Oakland: $68,144

What Skills Can Increase a Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 4.69%
Product Quality 3.34%
5S 1.93%
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 Machine Operator's salary.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Scheduling
$59,149
6%
Collaboration
$58,033
4%
SOP
$58,033
4%
Written Communication
$58,033
4%
Process Improvement
$58,033
4%
Leadership
$58,033
4%
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How Education impacts a Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Manufacturing Associate Machine Operators 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 Machine Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $44,344 and $47,881).

Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 36.4%
Associates 20.6%
Bachelors 37.4%
Masters 4.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Manufacturing Associate 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 March 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator

Salaries for a Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,122 in 2023 to around $44,384 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,122
2024
$45,030
2025
$44,384
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,122
2024 $45,030
2025 $44,384
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Manufacturing Associate Machine Operator

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

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

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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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