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

A Panel Operator's salary grows with experience: an Instrument Technician I (1-3 years)earns $54,445, an Panel Operator (3-5 years)earns $60,506, an Instrument Technician III (5-7 years)earns $78,046,

What are the highest paying states for a Panel Operator?

Panel Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Panel Operator roles are District of Columbia $67,944, California $67,686, Massachusetts $66,784. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Panel Operator roles make?

Salaries for Panel Operator level roles vary by specialization: Panel Manager: $91,498; Panel Shop Manager: $78,679; Panel Builder: $71,030; Panel Wirer: $69,684; Panel Technician: $64,635.

How do different companies affect a Panel Operator's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Panel Operator roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Panel Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Panel Operator make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Panel Operator in the United States is $61,365 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,705
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,928 to $73,059
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,887

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered Talent

Smart Recruiting

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Panel Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$73,059	$6,088	$1,405	$35
Average	$61,365	$5,114	$1,180	$30
25th Percentile	$56,928	$4,744	$1,095	$27

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Panel Operator Job Openings in the United States

Assistant Panel Shear Operator

Ohio Gratings, Inc - Canton, OH

Travel RN

Focus Staff - LEBANON, NH

REGISTERED NURSE

AMG SPECIALTY HOSPITAL ‑ ALBUQUERQUE - ALBUQUERQUE, NM

REGISTERED NURSE

AMG SPECIALTY HOSPITAL ‑ ALBUQUERQUE - ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Search More Panel Operator Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Panel Operator Salaries

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

District of Columbia: $67,944.
California: $67,686.
Massachusetts: $66,784.

District of Columbia $67,944

California $67,686

Massachusetts $66,784

Washington $66,538

New Jersey $66,514

Alaska $66,428

Connecticut $65,581

New York $65,237

Hawaii $64,139

Rhode Island $63,624

Maryland $63,274

Minnesota $62,795

Colorado $62,611

Illinois $62,550

Oregon $62,316

Delaware $62,145

New Hampshire $62,037

Virginia $61,795

Pennsylvania $61,089

Nevada $60,733

North Dakota $60,617

Michigan $60,433

Wisconsin $60,365

Vermont $60,230

Texas $59,856

Maine $59,831

Arizona $59,794

Ohio $59,751

Georgia $59,187

Indiana $58,905

Wyoming $58,849

Utah $58,763

Iowa $58,727

Kansas $58,432

Louisiana $58,346

North Carolina $58,315

Missouri $58,303

Florida $58,064

Montana $57,935

Nebraska $57,812

Kentucky $57,745

South Carolina $57,499

Tennessee $57,346

Idaho $57,285

New Mexico $56,837

Oklahoma $56,738

Alabama $56,376

South Dakota $55,769

Arkansas $55,437

West Virginia $55,259

Mississippi $54,726

Top Paying Cities for Panel 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: $77,400
San Francisco: $76,553
Oakland: $74,939

San Jose, CA $77,400

San Francisco, CA $76,553

Oakland, CA $74,939

New York, NY $70,655

Paramus, NJ $69,796

Queens Village, NY $69,793

Passaic, NJ $69,735

Bergenfield, NJ $69,729

Stamford, CT $69,594

Huntington, NY $69,569

Newark, NJ $69,116

Bridgeport, CT $68,986

Vallejo, CA $68,864

New Brunswick, NJ $68,840

Petaluma, CA $68,803

Middlesex, NJ $68,686

Somerset, NJ $68,643

Santa Cruz, CA $68,563

Boston, MA $68,189

Monterey, CA $67,974

Seattle, WA $67,833

Santa Rosa, CA $67,821

Los Angeles, CA $67,803

Juneau, AK $67,643

Washington, DC $67,575

Orange, CA $67,357

Santa Ana, CA $67,195

Long Beach, CA $67,134

Anaheim, CA $67,121

Anchorage, AK $67,091

Santa Maria, CA $66,907

Everett, WA $66,894

Danbury, CT $66,678

Bremerton, WA $66,594

Tacoma, WA $66,373

New Suffolk, NY $66,371

Sacramento, CA $66,354

Santa Barbara, CA $66,287

Trenton, NJ $66,219

San Diego, CA $66,219

Brockton, MA $66,152

Fairbanks, AK $66,001

Lompoc, CA $65,845

Lowell, MA $65,795

Ventura, CA $65,784

Nashua, NH $65,771

Stockton, CA $65,765

Modesto, CA $65,317

Poughkeepsie, NY $65,182

Olympia, WA $65,066

Kennewick, WA $65,066

New Haven, CT $65,041

Lawrence, MA $64,820

Hartford, CT $64,759

Riverside, CA $64,747

New Bedford, MA $64,685

Richland, WA $64,685

Bakersfield, CA $64,599

San Bernardino, CA $64,575

New Britain, CT $64,569

Atlantic City, NJ $64,569

New London, CT $64,544

Norwich, CT $64,526

Portsmouth, NH $64,513

Boulder, CO $64,383

Portland, OR $64,299

Worcester, MA $64,292

Minneapolis, MN $64,102

Philadelphia, PA $64,016

Honolulu, HI $63,814

Saint Paul, MN $63,784

Vineland, NJ $63,771

Providence, RI $63,593

Chicago, IL $63,415

Bellingham, WA $63,341

Springfield, MA $63,292

Baltimore, MD $63,274

Chico, CA $63,120

Pittsfield, MA $62,955

Manchester, NH $62,838

Spokane, WA $62,568

Denver, CO $62,562

Albany, NY $62,274

Troy, NY $62,249

Nassau, NY $62,183

Schenectady, NY $62,120

Wilmington, DE $62,071

Burlington, VT $61,985

Salem, OR $61,961

Portland, ME $61,770

Yakima, WA $61,709

Rochester, MN $61,519

Reno, NV $61,488

Fresno, CA $61,488

Milwaukee, WI $61,433

Detroit, MI $61,371

Ann Arbor, MI $61,361

Allentown, PA $61,353

Colorado Springs, CO $61,249

Syracuse, NY $61,218

Carson City, NV $61,218

Houston, TX $61,132

Eugene, OR $61,101

Gary, IN $61,028

Springfield, OR $60,979

Bismarck, ND $60,966

Galveston, TX $60,923

Medford, OR $60,831

Fort Collins, CO $60,807

Concord, NH $60,776

Austin, TX $60,758

Mesa, AZ $60,629

Reading, PA $60,623

Phoenix, AZ $60,617

Dallas, TX $60,598

Saint Cloud, MN $60,539

Madison, WI $60,457

Utica, NY $60,291

Rochester, NY $60,193

Des Moines, IA $60,187

Raleigh, NC $60,181

Atlanta, GA $60,089

Battle Creek, MI $60,070

Salt Lake City, UT $60,052

Lancaster, PA $59,960

Harrisburg, PA $59,874

Kansas City, MO $59,813

Champaign, IL $59,800

Kansas City, KS $59,800

Fort Worth, TX $59,794

Columbus, OH $59,784

Boca Raton, FL $59,770

Pittsburgh, PA $59,745

Richmond, VA $59,721

Indianapolis, IN $59,708

Cleveland, OH $59,702

Las Vegas, NV $59,629

Cincinnati, OH $59,629

Petersburg, VA $59,537

Huntsville, AL $59,445

Lansing, MI $59,403

Lebanon, PA $59,395

Pueblo, CO $59,389

Appleton, WI $59,371

Buffalo, NY $59,346

Dayton, OH $59,328

Racine, WI $59,316

Charlotte, NC $59,310

Saint Louis, MO $59,291

York, PA $59,254

Elkhart, IN $59,254

Gastonia, NC $59,243

Billings, MT $59,228

Beaumont, TX $59,211

Lorain, OH $59,199

Benton Harbor, MI $59,187

Toledo, OH $59,175

Binghamton, NY $59,144

Rock Hill, SC $59,138

Rockford, IL $59,107

Springfield, IL $59,083

Elyria, OH $59,076

Fargo, ND $59,076

Flagstaff, AZ $59,033

Fort Lauderdale, FL $58,997

Duluth, MN $58,960

Miami, FL $58,960

Cheyenne, WY $58,917

Grand Forks, ND $58,917

Bangor, ME $58,782

Cedar Rapids, IA $58,714

Durham, NC $58,689

Louisville, KY $58,684

Grand Rapids, MI $58,671

Hialeah, FL $58,665

Casper, WY $58,579

Scranton, PA $58,506

New Orleans, LA $58,487

Virginia Beach, VA $58,481

Akron, OH $58,450

Peoria, IL $58,371

Sarasota, FL $58,358

Nashville, TN $58,315

Omaha, NE $58,315

Green Bay, WI $58,315

Baton Rouge, LA $58,285

Charleston, SC $58,272

Jamestown, NY $58,242

Davenport, IA $58,242

Tucson, AZ $58,211

Saint Petersburg, FL $58,174

Tampa, FL $58,162

Evansville, IN $58,125

Port Arthur, TX $58,125

Bradenton, FL $58,101

Santa Fe, NM $57,990

Orlando, FL $57,880

Clearwater, FL $57,861

Canton, OH $57,732

La Crosse, WI $57,732

Albuquerque, NM $57,696

Newport News, VA $57,690

High Point, NC $57,671

Ogden, UT $57,647

Corpus Christi, TX $57,597

Norfolk, VA $57,561

Laramie, WY $57,561

Rock Island, IL $57,524

Saginaw, MI $57,512

Jacksonville, FL $57,505

Salisbury, NC $57,493

Boise, ID $57,481

Moline, IL $57,450

Fort Myers, FL $57,432

Memphis, TN $57,420

Tulsa, OK $57,389

Waterloo, IA $57,352

Spartanburg, SC $57,291

Lincoln, NE $57,260

Fort Wayne, IN $57,248

Provo, UT $57,242

Cedar Falls, IA $57,168

San Antonio, TX $57,143

Greensboro, NC $57,119

South Bend, IN $57,113

Savannah, GA $57,045

Muskegon, MI $57,021

Birmingham, AL $57,015

Winston Salem, NC $56,984

Lake Charles, LA $56,837

Anderson, IN $56,824

Lexington, KY $56,806

Augusta, GA $56,787

Greenville, SC $56,787

Lima, OH $56,738

Wichita, KS $56,732

Tuscaloosa, AL $56,732

Columbia, SC $56,677

Springfield, OH $56,665

Asheville, NC $56,567

Bloomington, IN $56,524

Knoxville, TN $56,303

Shreveport, LA $56,297

Wilmington, NC $56,217

Roanoke, VA $56,217

Topeka, KS $56,106

Frankfort, KY $56,100

Oklahoma City, OK $56,057

Chillicothe, OH $56,033

Longview, TX $56,027

Melbourne, FL $56,020

Sioux Falls, SD $55,922

Mobile, AL $55,916

Terre Haute, IN $55,892

Altoona, PA $55,855

Amarillo, TX $55,812

Killeen, TX $55,793

Fayetteville, AR $55,744

Chattanooga, TN $55,726

Sioux City, IA $55,671

Idaho Falls, ID $55,658

Lynchburg, VA $55,609

Gainesville, FL $55,529

Portsmouth, OH $55,499

Little Rock, AR $55,487

Lafayette, LA $55,462

Youngstown, OH $55,462

Daytona Beach, FL $55,425

Clarksville, TN $55,419

Pensacola, FL $55,413

Temple, TX $55,409

Hopkinsville, KY $55,229

Erie, PA $55,216

Florence, SC $55,192

Charleston, WV $55,094

Great Falls, MT $55,063

Macon, GA $54,977

Tallahassee, FL $54,971

Fayetteville, NC $54,959

Waco, TX $54,946

Helena, MT $54,904

Pine Bluff, AR $54,880

Vincennes, IN $54,805

Lubbock, TX $54,781

Alamogordo, NM $54,744

Twin Falls, ID $54,689

Rapid City, SD $54,670

Jackson, MS $54,560

Huntington, WV $54,556

Greenville, MS $54,554

Parkersburg, WV $54,491

Montgomery, AL $54,480

Wichita Falls, TX $54,419

Springfield, MO $54,419

Biloxi, MS $54,388

Monroe, LA $54,327

Johnstown, PA $54,284

Sumter, SC $54,259

Columbus, GA $54,253

Pascagoula, MS $54,136

Abilene, TX $54,136

Kingsport, TN $53,977

Albany, GA $53,977

Gulfport, MS $53,959

Alexandria, LA $53,756

Fort Smith, AR $53,603

El Paso, TX $53,437

Las Cruces, NM $53,161

Harlingen, TX $53,005

Pocatello, ID $52,995

Florence, AL $52,915

Brownsville, TX $52,903

Mcallen, TX $52,774

Dothan, AL $52,688

Columbus, MS $52,324

Altus, OK $52,038

Lawton, OK $51,921

Pierre, SD $51,700

What Skills Can Increase a Panel Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 10.62% 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.
Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.97% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
Data Acquisition (Mentioned in 1.72% Job Postings): Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real-world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a computer.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting	10.62%
Preventative Maintenance	2.97%
Data Acquisition	1.72%

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 Panel Operator's salary.

Customer Focus: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Customer Focus	$65,047	6%
Coordination	$64,434	5%
Commitment	$63,820	4%
Initiative	$63,820	4%
Repairing	$63,206	3%
HVAC	$63,206	3%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Panel Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Panel 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 Panel Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $63,236 and $70,271).

Panel Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Panel Operator

No Diploma 50.0%

High School 50.0%

Associates 40.0%

Bachelors 10.0%

Masters 0.0%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	50.0%
High School	50.0%
Associates	40.0%
Bachelors	10.0%
Masters	0.0%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

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

Understanding how a Panel 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 May 01, 2026

$56,928

Average $61,365/year

$73,059

$4,744

Average $5,114/month

$6,088

$1,095

Average $1,180/week

$1,405

$27

Average $30/hour

$35

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$73,059	$6,088	$1,405	$35
Average	$61,365	$5,114	$1,180	$30
25th Percentile	$56,928	$4,744	$1,095	$27

Salaries of jobs related to Panel Operator

Salary Trends for Panel Operator

Salaries for a Panel Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $53,077 in 2023 to around $52,656 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Panel Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Panel Operator Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$53,077

2024

$53,237

2025

$52,656

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$53,077
2024	$53,237
2025	$52,656
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Panel 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

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Panel Operator Job

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

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about