Material Handler/Machine Operator Salary in the United States
How much does a Material Handler/Machine Operator make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Material Handler/Machine Operator in the United States is $46,134 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.
However, a Material Handler/Machine Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $55,471
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,661 to $51,021
Key Factors That Influence Material Handler/Machine Operator Salaries
A Material Handler/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 Material Handler/Machine Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Material Handler/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): $41,189
Early Career (1-2 years): $45,774
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $51,934
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $55,817
Expert (over 8 years): $81,072
Levels
Salary
Machine O... Level Material Handler/Machine Operator
$41,189
Material ... Level Material Handler/Machine Operator
$45,774
Machine O... Level Material Handler/Machine Operator
$51,934
Machine O... Level Material Handler/Machine Operator
$55,817
Machine O... Level Material Handler/Machine Operator
$81,072
$41,1890 yr
$45,774< 2 yrs
$51,9342-4 yrs
$55,8175-8 yrs
$81,072> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Material Handler/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 Material Handler/Machine Operators.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $51,079.
California: $50,885.
Massachusetts: $50,207.
District of Columbia$51,079
California$50,885
Massachusetts$50,207
Washington$50,023
New Jersey$50,004
Alaska$49,940
Connecticut$49,303
New York$49,045
Hawaii$48,219
Rhode Island$47,831
Maryland$47,568
Minnesota$47,208
Colorado$47,070
Illinois$47,024
Oregon$46,849
Delaware$46,719
New Hampshire$46,638
Virginia$46,456
Pennsylvania$45,926
Nevada$45,658
North Dakota$45,571
Michigan$45,432
Wisconsin$45,382
Vermont$45,280
Texas$44,999
Maine$44,980
Arizona$44,952
Ohio$44,920
Georgia$44,496
Indiana$44,284
Wyoming$44,242
Utah$44,177
Iowa$44,150
Kansas$43,928
Louisiana$43,864
North Carolina$43,841
Missouri$43,831
Florida$43,652
Montana$43,555
Nebraska$43,462
Kentucky$43,412
South Carolina$43,227
Tennessee$43,112
Idaho$43,066
New Mexico$42,729
Oklahoma$42,655
Alabama$42,383
South Dakota$41,926
Arkansas$41,677
West Virginia$41,543
Mississippi$41,142
Top Paying Cities for Material Handler/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: $58,188
San Francisco: $57,551
Oakland: $56,338
San Jose, CA$58,188
San Francisco, CA$57,551
Oakland, CA$56,338
New York, NY$53,118
Paramus, NJ$52,472
Queens Village, NY$52,469
Passaic, NJ$52,426
Bergenfield, NJ$52,421
Stamford, CT$52,320
Huntington, NY$52,301
Newark, NJ$51,960
Bridgeport, CT$51,863
Vallejo, CA$51,771
New Brunswick, NJ$51,753
Petaluma, CA$51,725
Middlesex, NJ$51,637
Somerset, NJ$51,605
Santa Cruz, CA$51,545
Boston, MA$51,264
Monterey, CA$51,102
Seattle, WA$50,996
Santa Rosa, CA$50,987
Los Angeles, CA$50,973
Juneau, AK$50,853
Washington, DC$50,802
Orange, CA$50,638
Santa Ana, CA$50,516
Long Beach, CA$50,470
Anaheim, CA$50,461
Anchorage, AK$50,438
Santa Maria, CA$50,299
Everett, WA$50,290
Danbury, CT$50,128
Bremerton, WA$50,064
Tacoma, WA$49,898
New Suffolk, NY$49,897
Sacramento, CA$49,884
Santa Barbara, CA$49,833
Trenton, NJ$49,783
San Diego, CA$49,783
Brockton, MA$49,732
Fairbanks, AK$49,619
Lompoc, CA$49,501
Lowell, MA$49,464
Ventura, CA$49,455
Nashua, NH$49,446
Stockton, CA$49,441
Modesto, CA$49,104
Poughkeepsie, NY$49,003
Olympia, WA$48,915
Kennewick, WA$48,915
New Haven, CT$48,897
Lawrence, MA$48,731
Hartford, CT$48,685
Riverside, CA$48,675
New Bedford, MA$48,629
Richland, WA$48,629
Bakersfield, CA$48,565
San Bernardino, CA$48,546
New Britain, CT$48,542
Atlantic City, NJ$48,542
New London, CT$48,523
Norwich, CT$48,509
Portsmouth, NH$48,500
Boulder, CO$48,402
Portland, OR$48,339
Worcester, MA$48,334
Minneapolis, MN$48,191
Philadelphia, PA$48,126
Honolulu, HI$47,974
Saint Paul, MN$47,952
Vineland, NJ$47,942
Providence, RI$47,808
Chicago, IL$47,674
Bellingham, WA$47,619
Springfield, MA$47,582
Baltimore, MD$47,568
Chico, CA$47,453
Pittsfield, MA$47,328
Manchester, NH$47,241
Spokane, WA$47,038
Denver, CO$47,033
Albany, NY$46,816
Troy, NY$46,798
Nassau, NY$46,748
Schenectady, NY$46,701
Wilmington, DE$46,664
Burlington, VT$46,599
Salem, OR$46,581
Portland, ME$46,438
Yakima, WA$46,392
Rochester, MN$46,249
Reno, NV$46,226
Fresno, CA$46,226
Milwaukee, WI$46,184
Detroit, MI$46,138
Ann Arbor, MI$46,130
Allentown, PA$46,124
Colorado Springs, CO$46,046
Syracuse, NY$46,023
Carson City, NV$46,023
Houston, TX$45,958
Eugene, OR$45,935
Gary, IN$45,880
Springfield, OR$45,843
Bismarck, ND$45,834
Galveston, TX$45,801
Medford, OR$45,732
Fort Collins, CO$45,714
Concord, NH$45,691
Austin, TX$45,677
Mesa, AZ$45,580
Reading, PA$45,575
Phoenix, AZ$45,571
Dallas, TX$45,557
Saint Cloud, MN$45,513
Madison, WI$45,451
Utica, NY$45,326
Rochester, NY$45,252
Des Moines, IA$45,248
Raleigh, NC$45,243
Atlanta, GA$45,174
Battle Creek, MI$45,160
Salt Lake City, UT$45,146
Lancaster, PA$45,077
Harrisburg, PA$45,012
Kansas City, MO$44,966
Champaign, IL$44,957
Kansas City, KS$44,957
Fort Worth, TX$44,952
Columbus, OH$44,945
Boca Raton, FL$44,934
Pittsburgh, PA$44,916
Richmond, VA$44,897
Indianapolis, IN$44,888
Cleveland, OH$44,883
Las Vegas, NV$44,828
Cincinnati, OH$44,828
Petersburg, VA$44,759
Huntsville, AL$44,690
Lansing, MI$44,659
Lebanon, PA$44,653
Pueblo, CO$44,648
Appleton, WI$44,634
Buffalo, NY$44,616
Dayton, OH$44,602
Racine, WI$44,593
Charlotte, NC$44,588
Saint Louis, MO$44,574
York, PA$44,547
Elkhart, IN$44,547
Gastonia, NC$44,538
Billings, MT$44,527
Beaumont, TX$44,514
Lorain, OH$44,505
Benton Harbor, MI$44,496
Toledo, OH$44,487
Binghamton, NY$44,463
Rock Hill, SC$44,459
Rockford, IL$44,436
Springfield, IL$44,417
Elyria, OH$44,413
Fargo, ND$44,413
Flagstaff, AZ$44,380
Fort Lauderdale, FL$44,353
Duluth, MN$44,325
Miami, FL$44,325
Cheyenne, WY$44,293
Grand Forks, ND$44,293
Bangor, ME$44,191
Cedar Rapids, IA$44,141
Durham, NC$44,121
Louisville, KY$44,117
Grand Rapids, MI$44,108
Hialeah, FL$44,104
Casper, WY$44,039
Scranton, PA$43,984
New Orleans, LA$43,970
Virginia Beach, VA$43,965
Akron, OH$43,942
Peoria, IL$43,882
Sarasota, FL$43,873
Nashville, TN$43,841
Omaha, NE$43,841
Green Bay, WI$43,841
Baton Rouge, LA$43,818
Charleston, SC$43,808
Jamestown, NY$43,785
Davenport, IA$43,785
Tucson, AZ$43,762
Saint Petersburg, FL$43,735
Tampa, FL$43,725
Evansville, IN$43,698
Port Arthur, TX$43,698
Bradenton, FL$43,679
Santa Fe, NM$43,596
Orlando, FL$43,513
Clearwater, FL$43,499
Canton, OH$43,402
La Crosse, WI$43,402
Albuquerque, NM$43,375
Newport News, VA$43,370
High Point, NC$43,356
Ogden, UT$43,338
Corpus Christi, TX$43,301
Norfolk, VA$43,273
Laramie, WY$43,273
Rock Island, IL$43,246
Saginaw, MI$43,236
Jacksonville, FL$43,232
Salisbury, NC$43,222
Boise, ID$43,213
Moline, IL$43,190
Fort Myers, FL$43,176
Memphis, TN$43,167
Tulsa, OK$43,144
Waterloo, IA$43,116
Spartanburg, SC$43,070
Lincoln, NE$43,047
Fort Wayne, IN$43,038
Provo, UT$43,033
Cedar Falls, IA$42,978
San Antonio, TX$42,960
Greensboro, NC$42,941
South Bend, IN$42,936
Savannah, GA$42,886
Muskegon, MI$42,867
Birmingham, AL$42,863
Winston Salem, NC$42,840
Lake Charles, LA$42,729
Anderson, IN$42,720
Lexington, KY$42,706
Augusta, GA$42,692
Greenville, SC$42,692
Lima, OH$42,655
Wichita, KS$42,650
Tuscaloosa, AL$42,650
Columbia, SC$42,609
Springfield, OH$42,600
Asheville, NC$42,526
Bloomington, IN$42,494
Knoxville, TN$42,327
Shreveport, LA$42,323
Wilmington, NC$42,263
Roanoke, VA$42,263
Topeka, KS$42,180
Frankfort, KY$42,175
Oklahoma City, OK$42,143
Chillicothe, OH$42,124
Longview, TX$42,120
Melbourne, FL$42,115
Sioux Falls, SD$42,041
Mobile, AL$42,037
Terre Haute, IN$42,018
Altoona, PA$41,991
Amarillo, TX$41,958
Killeen, TX$41,945
Fayetteville, AR$41,908
Chattanooga, TN$41,894
Sioux City, IA$41,852
Idaho Falls, ID$41,843
Lynchburg, VA$41,806
Gainesville, FL$41,746
Portsmouth, OH$41,723
Little Rock, AR$41,714
Lafayette, LA$41,695
Youngstown, OH$41,695
Daytona Beach, FL$41,668
Clarksville, TN$41,663
Pensacola, FL$41,659
Temple, TX$41,655
Hopkinsville, KY$41,520
Erie, PA$41,511
Florence, SC$41,492
Charleston, WV$41,419
Great Falls, MT$41,396
Macon, GA$41,331
Tallahassee, FL$41,326
Fayetteville, NC$41,317
Waco, TX$41,308
Helena, MT$41,276
Pine Bluff, AR$41,258
Vincennes, IN$41,202
Lubbock, TX$41,183
Alamogordo, NM$41,156
Twin Falls, ID$41,114
Rapid City, SD$41,100
Jackson, MS$41,017
Huntington, WV$41,014
Greenville, MS$41,013
Parkersburg, WV$40,966
Montgomery, AL$40,957
Wichita Falls, TX$40,911
Springfield, MO$40,911
Biloxi, MS$40,888
Monroe, LA$40,842
Johnstown, PA$40,810
Sumter, SC$40,791
Columbus, GA$40,787
Pascagoula, MS$40,699
Abilene, TX$40,699
Kingsport, TN$40,579
Albany, GA$40,579
Gulfport, MS$40,565
Alexandria, LA$40,413
Fort Smith, AR$40,298
El Paso, TX$40,173
Las Cruces, NM$39,965
Harlingen, TX$39,848
Pocatello, ID$39,841
Florence, AL$39,781
Brownsville, TX$39,772
Mcallen, TX$39,675
Dothan, AL$39,610
Columbus, MS$39,336
Altus, OK$39,121
Lawton, OK$39,034
Pierre, SD$38,867
What Skills Can Increase a Material Handler/Machine Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Commitment (Mentioned in 3.99% 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 3.23% Job Postings): Applying methods and techniques to implement, maintain, repair, design, and update various machines following specific rules to ensure safety.
Container (Mentioned in 2.39% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Commitment
3.99%
Machine Operation
3.23%
Container
2.39%
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 Material Handler/Machine Operator's salary.
Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Analysis
$49,824
8%
Dedication
$49,363
7%
Collaboration
$47,979
4%
Leadership
$47,518
3%
Initiative
$47,518
3%
SOP
$47,056
2%
Get Latest Data
Material Handler/Machine Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Material Handler/Machine Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Media and Insurance
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Material Handler/Machine Operator positions in MFG Durable or Internet typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Material Handler/Machine Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Material Handler/Machine Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Media
$59,974
$29.0
30%
Insurance
$57,667
$28.0
25%
Construction
$55,360
$27.0
20%
Financial Services
$53,054
$26.0
15%
Aerospace & Defense
$50,747
$24.0
10%
How Education impacts a Material Handler/Machine Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Material Handler/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 Material Handler/Machine Operator with a No Diploma is between
$44,700
and $47,709).
Material Handler/Machine Operator Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Material Handler/Machine Operator
No Diploma85.7%
High School85.7%
Associates9.5%
Bachelors4.8%
Masters0.0%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
85.7%
High School
85.7%
Associates
9.5%
Bachelors
4.8%
Masters
0.0%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Material Handler/Machine Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Material Handler/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 July 01, 2026
$41,661
Average$46,134/year
$51,021
$3,472
Average$3,844/month
$4,252
$801
Average$887/week
$981
$20
Average$22/hour
$25
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$51,021
$4,252
$981
$25
Average
$46,134
$3,844
$887
$22
25th Percentile
$41,661
$3,472
$801
$20
Salaries of jobs related to Material Handler/Machine Operator
Salary Trends for Material Handler/Machine Operator
Salaries for a Material Handler/Machine Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $42,345 in 2023
to around $42,382 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Material Handler/Machine Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Material Handler/Machine Operator Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$42,345
2024
$42,497
2025
$42,382
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$42,345
2024
$42,497
2025
$42,382
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Material Handler/Machine Operator
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Material Handler/Machine Operator
Here are companies hiring for Material Handler/Machine Operator 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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