The salary of a Machine Operator I in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of April 01, 2025, the average hourly pay of Machine Operator I in the United States is $20. While Salary.com is seeing that the highest pay for Machine Operator I in the US can go up to $22 and the lowest down to $17, but most earn between $18 and $21. Salary.com shows the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Machine Operator I in the United States.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $21 | $2 | $0 | $0 |
| Average | $20 | $2 | $0 | $0 |
| 25th Percentile | $18 | $2 | $0 | $0 |
As of April 01, 2025, Salary.com is seeing that an entry-level Machine Operator I with under 1 year experience makes about $40,674. With less than 2 years of experience, a mid-level Machine Operator I makes around $40,919. After 2-4 years, the Machine Operator I pay rises to about $41,446. Those senior Machine Operator I with 5-8 years of experience earn roughly $41,798, and those Machine Operator I having 8 years or more experience is expected to earn about $41,886 on average.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Machine Operator I | $40,674 |
| Intermediate Level Machine Operator I | $40,919 |
| Senior Level Machine Operator I | $41,446 |
| Specialist Level Machine Operator I | $41,798 |
| Expert Level Machine Operator I | $41,886 |
| Entry Level | 1% |
| Mid Level | 0% |
| Senior Level | 1% |
| Top Level | 2% |
| Experienced | 2% |
Salaries in the United States can vary significantly from state to state due to a multitude of factors, including cost of living, local economic conditions, and industry presence.
For example, as of April 01, 2025, the average yearly salary of Machine Operator I is $45,134 in California and in Massachusetts, the average annual salary goes to $44,532. While in New Jersey, a Machine Operator I earns $44,352 per year.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary significantly from city to city due to a multitude of factors, including cost of living, local economic conditions, and industry presence.
For example, as of April 01, 2025, the average yearly salary of Machine Operator I in San Francisco, CA is $51,104 and in New York, NY, the average annual salary goes to $47,421. While a Machine Operator I earns $45,637 per year in Boston, MA.
For those exploring the changing dynamics of Machine Operator I salaries, Salary.com offers detailed insights through our Job Trending in CA Labor Market analysis. As of April 01, 2025, our research highlights a notable shift in Machine Operator I compensation over the past six years. For instance, the median salary has moved from $38,256 in 2023 to about $37,980 in 2024 (for a comprehensive analysis of Machine Operator I salary trends, click here). It's crucial to consider several elements, including geographical location, experience level, industry demand, and economic development, as they play a significant role in influencing salary variations.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Machine Operator I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Machine Operator I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Machine Operator I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $40,919 | 65.8% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $3,130 | 5.0% | ||
| 401K/403B | $1,719 | 2.8% | ||
| Disability | $818 | 1.3% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 13.4% | ||
| Pension | $2,210 | 3.6% | ||
| Time Off | $5,036 | 8.1% | ||
| Total Compensation | $62,184 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 10.4% |
| High School | 69.8% |
| Associates | 12.5% |
| Bachelors | 7.3% |
What Am I Worth?
Sets up and operates a production machine in accordance with established procedures and guidelines. Uses computer-controlled equipment to select, position and secure automatic or semi-automatic machines. Controls and adjusts machine settings to complete simple tasks accurately, according to specifications, and in a timely fashion. May require a high school diploma or its equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor/manager. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Commitment: 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: Applying methods and techniques to implement, maintain, repair, design, and update various machines following specific rules to ensure safety.
Preventative Maintenance: Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
