General Laborer/Machine Operator Salary in the United States
How much does a General Laborer/Machine Operator make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a General Laborer/Machine Operator in the United States is $40,861 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.
However, a General Laborer/Machine Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,892
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,573 to $44,018
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,580
10%$34,580
50% (Median)$40,861
90%$46,892
General Laborer/Machine Operator Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence General Laborer/Machine Operator Salaries
A General Laborer/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 General Laborer/Machine Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a General Laborer/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): $40,628
Early Career (1-2 years): $45,153
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $51,237
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $55,045
Expert (over 8 years): $79,998
Levels
Salary
General L... Level General Laborer/Machine Operator
$40,628
Machine O... Level General Laborer/Machine Operator
$45,153
Machine O... Level General Laborer/Machine Operator
$51,237
Machine O... Level General Laborer/Machine Operator
$55,045
Machine O... Level General Laborer/Machine Operator
How Do General Laborer/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 General Laborer/Machine Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $45,241.
California: $45,069.
Massachusetts: $44,469.
District of Columbia$45,241
California$45,069
Massachusetts$44,469
Washington$44,305
New Jersey$44,289
Alaska$44,232
Connecticut$43,668
New York$43,439
Hawaii$42,707
Rhode Island$42,364
Maryland$42,131
Minnesota$41,813
Colorado$41,690
Illinois$41,649
Oregon$41,494
Delaware$41,380
New Hampshire$41,308
Virginia$41,147
Pennsylvania$40,677
Nevada$40,440
North Dakota$40,362
Michigan$40,240
Wisconsin$40,195
Vermont$40,105
Texas$39,855
Maine$39,839
Arizona$39,815
Ohio$39,786
Georgia$39,410
Indiana$39,222
Wyoming$39,185
Utah$39,128
Iowa$39,104
Kansas$38,907
Louisiana$38,850
North Carolina$38,830
Missouri$38,822
Florida$38,662
Montana$38,576
Nebraska$38,495
Kentucky$38,450
South Carolina$38,286
Tennessee$38,184
Idaho$38,143
New Mexico$37,845
Oklahoma$37,780
Alabama$37,539
South Dakota$37,134
Arkansas$36,913
West Virginia$36,795
Mississippi$36,439
Top Paying Cities for General Laborer/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: $51,537
San Francisco: $50,973
Oakland: $49,899
San Jose, CA$51,537
San Francisco, CA$50,973
Oakland, CA$49,899
New York, NY$47,046
Paramus, NJ$46,474
Queens Village, NY$46,472
Passaic, NJ$46,434
Bergenfield, NJ$46,430
Stamford, CT$46,340
Huntington, NY$46,323
Newark, NJ$46,021
Bridgeport, CT$45,935
Vallejo, CA$45,854
New Brunswick, NJ$45,837
Petaluma, CA$45,813
Middlesex, NJ$45,735
Somerset, NJ$45,707
Santa Cruz, CA$45,654
Boston, MA$45,404
Monterey, CA$45,261
Seattle, WA$45,167
Santa Rosa, CA$45,159
Los Angeles, CA$45,147
Juneau, AK$45,041
Washington, DC$44,996
Orange, CA$44,850
Santa Ana, CA$44,742
Long Beach, CA$44,701
Anaheim, CA$44,693
Anchorage, AK$44,673
Santa Maria, CA$44,550
Everett, WA$44,542
Danbury, CT$44,398
Bremerton, WA$44,342
Tacoma, WA$44,195
New Suffolk, NY$44,194
Sacramento, CA$44,183
Santa Barbara, CA$44,138
Trenton, NJ$44,093
San Diego, CA$44,093
Brockton, MA$44,048
Fairbanks, AK$43,948
Lompoc, CA$43,843
Lowell, MA$43,810
Ventura, CA$43,803
Nashua, NH$43,794
Stockton, CA$43,790
Modesto, CA$43,492
Poughkeepsie, NY$43,402
Olympia, WA$43,324
Kennewick, WA$43,324
New Haven, CT$43,308
Lawrence, MA$43,161
Hartford, CT$43,120
Riverside, CA$43,112
New Bedford, MA$43,071
Richland, WA$43,071
Bakersfield, CA$43,014
San Bernardino, CA$42,998
New Britain, CT$42,994
Atlantic City, NJ$42,994
New London, CT$42,977
Norwich, CT$42,965
Portsmouth, NH$42,957
Boulder, CO$42,870
Portland, OR$42,814
Worcester, MA$42,810
Minneapolis, MN$42,683
Philadelphia, PA$42,626
Honolulu, HI$42,491
Saint Paul, MN$42,471
Vineland, NJ$42,462
Providence, RI$42,344
Chicago, IL$42,225
Bellingham, WA$42,176
Springfield, MA$42,144
Baltimore, MD$42,131
Chico, CA$42,029
Pittsfield, MA$41,919
Manchester, NH$41,841
Spokane, WA$41,661
Denver, CO$41,657
Albany, NY$41,465
Troy, NY$41,449
Nassau, NY$41,405
Schenectady, NY$41,363
Wilmington, DE$41,330
Burlington, VT$41,273
Salem, OR$41,257
Portland, ME$41,130
Yakima, WA$41,089
Rochester, MN$40,963
Reno, NV$40,942
Fresno, CA$40,942
Milwaukee, WI$40,906
Detroit, MI$40,865
Ann Arbor, MI$40,858
Allentown, PA$40,852
Colorado Springs, CO$40,783
Syracuse, NY$40,763
Carson City, NV$40,763
Houston, TX$40,705
Eugene, OR$40,685
Gary, IN$40,636
Springfield, OR$40,603
Bismarck, ND$40,595
Galveston, TX$40,566
Medford, OR$40,505
Fort Collins, CO$40,489
Concord, NH$40,468
Austin, TX$40,456
Mesa, AZ$40,370
Reading, PA$40,366
Phoenix, AZ$40,362
Dallas, TX$40,350
Saint Cloud, MN$40,311
Madison, WI$40,256
Utica, NY$40,146
Rochester, NY$40,080
Des Moines, IA$40,076
Raleigh, NC$40,072
Atlanta, GA$40,011
Battle Creek, MI$39,998
Salt Lake City, UT$39,986
Lancaster, PA$39,925
Harrisburg, PA$39,868
Kansas City, MO$39,827
Champaign, IL$39,819
Kansas City, KS$39,819
Fort Worth, TX$39,815
Columbus, OH$39,808
Boca Raton, FL$39,798
Pittsburgh, PA$39,782
Richmond, VA$39,766
Indianapolis, IN$39,757
Cleveland, OH$39,753
Las Vegas, NV$39,704
Cincinnati, OH$39,704
Petersburg, VA$39,643
Huntsville, AL$39,582
Lansing, MI$39,554
Lebanon, PA$39,549
Pueblo, CO$39,545
Appleton, WI$39,533
Buffalo, NY$39,516
Dayton, OH$39,504
Racine, WI$39,496
Charlotte, NC$39,492
Saint Louis, MO$39,480
York, PA$39,455
Elkhart, IN$39,455
Gastonia, NC$39,447
Billings, MT$39,437
Beaumont, TX$39,426
Lorain, OH$39,418
Benton Harbor, MI$39,410
Toledo, OH$39,402
Binghamton, NY$39,381
Rock Hill, SC$39,377
Rockford, IL$39,357
Springfield, IL$39,341
Elyria, OH$39,336
Fargo, ND$39,336
Flagstaff, AZ$39,308
Fort Lauderdale, FL$39,283
Duluth, MN$39,259
Miami, FL$39,259
Cheyenne, WY$39,230
Grand Forks, ND$39,230
Bangor, ME$39,140
Cedar Rapids, IA$39,095
Durham, NC$39,078
Louisville, KY$39,075
Grand Rapids, MI$39,067
Hialeah, FL$39,063
Casper, WY$39,006
Scranton, PA$38,956
New Orleans, LA$38,944
Virginia Beach, VA$38,940
Akron, OH$38,920
Peoria, IL$38,867
Sarasota, FL$38,858
Nashville, TN$38,830
Omaha, NE$38,830
Green Bay, WI$38,830
Baton Rouge, LA$38,809
Charleston, SC$38,801
Jamestown, NY$38,781
Davenport, IA$38,781
Tucson, AZ$38,760
Saint Petersburg, FL$38,736
Tampa, FL$38,728
Evansville, IN$38,703
Port Arthur, TX$38,703
Bradenton, FL$38,687
Santa Fe, NM$38,613
Orlando, FL$38,540
Clearwater, FL$38,527
Canton, OH$38,442
La Crosse, WI$38,442
Albuquerque, NM$38,417
Newport News, VA$38,413
High Point, NC$38,401
Ogden, UT$38,384
Corpus Christi, TX$38,352
Norfolk, VA$38,327
Laramie, WY$38,327
Rock Island, IL$38,303
Saginaw, MI$38,295
Jacksonville, FL$38,290
Salisbury, NC$38,282
Boise, ID$38,274
Moline, IL$38,254
Fort Myers, FL$38,241
Memphis, TN$38,233
Tulsa, OK$38,213
Waterloo, IA$38,188
Spartanburg, SC$38,147
Lincoln, NE$38,127
Fort Wayne, IN$38,119
Provo, UT$38,115
Cedar Falls, IA$38,066
San Antonio, TX$38,049
Greensboro, NC$38,033
South Bend, IN$38,029
Savannah, GA$37,984
Muskegon, MI$37,968
Birmingham, AL$37,964
Winston Salem, NC$37,944
Lake Charles, LA$37,845
Anderson, IN$37,837
Lexington, KY$37,825
Augusta, GA$37,812
Greenville, SC$37,812
Lima, OH$37,780
Wichita, KS$37,776
Tuscaloosa, AL$37,776
Columbia, SC$37,739
Springfield, OH$37,731
Asheville, NC$37,665
Bloomington, IN$37,637
Knoxville, TN$37,490
Shreveport, LA$37,486
Wilmington, NC$37,432
Roanoke, VA$37,432
Topeka, KS$37,359
Frankfort, KY$37,354
Oklahoma City, OK$37,326
Chillicothe, OH$37,310
Longview, TX$37,306
Melbourne, FL$37,302
Sioux Falls, SD$37,236
Mobile, AL$37,232
Terre Haute, IN$37,216
Altoona, PA$37,191
Amarillo, TX$37,163
Killeen, TX$37,150
Fayetteville, AR$37,118
Chattanooga, TN$37,106
Sioux City, IA$37,069
Idaho Falls, ID$37,061
Lynchburg, VA$37,028
Gainesville, FL$36,975
Portsmouth, OH$36,954
Little Rock, AR$36,946
Lafayette, LA$36,930
Youngstown, OH$36,930
Daytona Beach, FL$36,905
Clarksville, TN$36,901
Pensacola, FL$36,897
Temple, TX$36,894
Hopkinsville, KY$36,775
Erie, PA$36,766
Florence, SC$36,750
Charleston, WV$36,685
Great Falls, MT$36,664
Macon, GA$36,607
Tallahassee, FL$36,603
Fayetteville, NC$36,595
Waco, TX$36,587
Helena, MT$36,558
Pine Bluff, AR$36,542
Vincennes, IN$36,493
Lubbock, TX$36,476
Alamogordo, NM$36,452
Twin Falls, ID$36,415
Rapid City, SD$36,403
Jackson, MS$36,329
Huntington, WV$36,326
Greenville, MS$36,325
Parkersburg, WV$36,283
Montgomery, AL$36,276
Wichita Falls, TX$36,235
Springfield, MO$36,235
Biloxi, MS$36,215
Monroe, LA$36,174
Johnstown, PA$36,145
Sumter, SC$36,129
Columbus, GA$36,125
Pascagoula, MS$36,047
Abilene, TX$36,047
Kingsport, TN$35,941
Albany, GA$35,941
Gulfport, MS$35,929
Alexandria, LA$35,794
Fort Smith, AR$35,692
El Paso, TX$35,581
Las Cruces, NM$35,398
Harlingen, TX$35,294
Pocatello, ID$35,287
Florence, AL$35,234
Brownsville, TX$35,226
Mcallen, TX$35,140
Dothan, AL$35,083
Columbus, MS$34,840
Altus, OK$34,650
Lawton, OK$34,572
Pierre, SD$34,425
What Skills Can Increase a General Laborer/Machine Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Commitment (Mentioned in 3.86% 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 3.15% Job Postings): Applying methods and techniques to implement, maintain, repair, design, and update various machines following specific rules to ensure safety.
Container (Mentioned in 2.29% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.
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 General Laborer/Machine Operator's salary.
CNC: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
General Laborer/Machine Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For General Laborer/Machine Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the MFG Nondurable and Financial Services
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average.
In contrast, General Laborer/Machine Operator positions in MFG Durable or Healthcare typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view General Laborer/Machine Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a General Laborer/Machine Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable
$55,162
$27.0
35%
Financial Services
$53,119
$26.0
30%
Media
$51,076
$25.0
25%
Biotechnology
$49,033
$24.0
20%
Insurance
$46,990
$23.0
15%
How Education impacts a General Laborer/Machine Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many General Laborer/Machine Operators 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 General Laborer/Machine Operator with a No Diploma is between
$37,041
and $39,424).
General Laborer/Machine Operator Salaries by Degree Level
$42,800
$42,000
$41,200
$40,300
$39,500
$38,700
$37,900
$37,100
No Diploma
High School
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Typical Education for General Laborer/Machine Operator
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
10.4%
High School
69.8%
Associates
12.5%
Bachelors
7.3%
Masters
0.0%
Doctorate
0.0%
Typical Education for General Laborer/Machine Operator
General Laborer/Machine Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a General Laborer/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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$37,573
Average$40,861/year
$44,018
$3,131
Average$3,405/month
$3,668
$723
Average$786/week
$846
$18
Average$20/hour
$21
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$44,018
$3,668
$846
$21
Average
$40,861
$3,405
$786
$20
25th Percentile
$37,573
$3,131
$723
$18
Salaries of Jobs related to General Laborer/Machine Operator
Lease Operator$60,200
Furnace Operator/Tender$47,407
Extrusion Operator$42,945
General Laborer/Forklift Operator$41,827
General Production Operator$41,585
General Operator$41,215
Surveillance Operator$41,000
Sewing Machine Operator$39,506
Switchboard Operator$38,404
Jogger Operator$37,100
Wood Machine Operator$36,088
Salary Trends for General Laborer/Machine Operator
Salaries for a General Laborer/Machine Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $37,985 in 2023
to around $37,459 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of General Laborer/Machine Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of General Laborer/Machine Operator Over Time
$???
$37,985
$37,711
$37,459
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$37,985
2024
$37,711
2025
$37,459
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for General Laborer/Machine Operator
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for General Laborer/Machine Operator
Here are companies hiring for General Laborer/Machine Operator 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
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FAQ about General Laborer/Machine Operator
1. What industry pays the highest salary for General Laborer/Machine Operator?
The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for General Laborer/Machine Operator roles,
with salaries approximately 35% 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.
