▼22%
$19.59
Avg. Base Hourly Rate (USD)
/ hour
Avg. Base Hourly Rate (USD)
10%
$14.93
MEDIAN
$19.59
90%
$27.59
The average hourly pay for a Machine Operator is $19.59 in 2025
Hourly Rate
$15 - $28
Bonus
$592 - $10k
Profit Sharing
$491 - $2k
Total Pay
$31k - $60k
Is Average Late-Career Machine Operator with Machine Operation Skills Hourly Pay your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Machine Operators?
What Do Machine Operators Do?
Machine Operator Tasks
- Load, position, and arrange materials and operate equipment to create products.
- Communicate irregularities, problems, and process concerns.
- Calibrate equipment to produce the correct specification of products.
- Monitor supplies and inventory, and ensure adequate amount of materials ready at hand.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Machine Operator
Medical
96%
Dental
85%
Vision
75%
None
4%
Gender Breakdown for Machine Operators
Male
83.7%
Female
16.3%
This data is based on 49 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Machine Operators
What is the highest pay for Machine Operators?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Machine Operator is $27.59 / hour
What is the lowest pay for Machine Operators?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Machine Operator is $14.93 / hour
How can Machine Operators increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Machine Operator is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Machine Operator that oversees more junior Machine Operators, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.