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

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Machine Operator 's salary?

A Machine Operator 's salary grows with experience: a Machine Operator I (0-1 years)earns $41,533, a Machine Operator II (1-3 years)earns $46,149, a Machine Operator III (3-5 years)earns $52,331, a Machine Operator IV (5-7 years)earns $65,788, a Machine Operator Supervisor (7+ years)earns $91,768,

What are the highest paying states for a Machine Operator III?

Machine Operator III salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Machine Operator III roles are District of Columbia $57,085, California $56,868, Massachusetts $56,111. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Machine Operator roles make?

Salaries for Machine Operator level roles vary by specialization: CNC Laser Machine Operator III: $71,300; Computer Numeric Controlled Machine Operator III: $71,237; Injection Molding Machine Operator III: $56,576; Production Machine Operator III: $51,600; SMT Machine Operator III: $49,440.

Click or scroll to view upper level job

Machine Operator III Salary in Delaware

How much does a Machine Operator III make in Delaware?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Machine Operator III in Delaware is $52,331 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,977
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,462 to $57,904
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,029

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Machine Operator III Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$57,904	$4,825	$1,114	$28
Average	$52,331	$4,361	$1,006	$25
25th Percentile	$47,462	$3,955	$913	$23

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Machine Operator III Job Openings in Delaware

Manufacturing Technician

Path Engineering - Wilmington, DE

Sewing Machine Operator

CHB Enterprises LLC - Wilmington, DE

Production Machine Operator

Refresco - Wilmington, DE

AUTO DEBONE MACHINE OPERATOR

Perdue Farms - Georgetown, DE

Search More Machine Operator III Jobs in Delaware

Key Factors That Influence Machine Operator III Salaries

A Machine Operator III'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Machine Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Machine Operator III'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:

Machine Operator I (0-1 years): $41,533
Machine Operator II (1-3 years): $46,149
Machine Operator III (3-5 years): $52,331
Machine Operator IV (5-7 years): $65,788
Machine Operator Supervisor (7+ years): $91,768

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Machine Operator I	0-1 years	$41,533
Machine Operator II	1-3 years	$46,149
Machine Operator III	3-5 years	$52,331
Machine Operator IV	5-7 years	$65,788
Machine Operator Supervisor	7+ years	$91,768

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Machine Operator III 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 Machine Operator IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $57,085.
California: $56,868.
Massachusetts: $56,111.

District of Columbia $57,085 California $56,868 Massachusetts $56,111 Washington $55,904 New Jersey $55,884 Alaska $55,812 Connecticut $55,100 New York $54,811

Hawaii $53,888 Rhode Island $53,455 Maryland $53,161 Minnesota $52,759 Colorado $52,605 Illinois $52,553 Oregon $52,357 Delaware $52,213

New Hampshire $52,122 Virginia $51,919 Pennsylvania $51,326 Nevada $51,027 North Dakota $50,929 Michigan $50,774 Wisconsin $50,718 Vermont $50,604

Texas $50,290 Maine $50,269 Arizona $50,238 Ohio $50,202 Georgia $49,728 Indiana $49,491 Wyoming $49,444 Utah $49,372

Iowa $49,341 Kansas $49,094 Louisiana $49,021 North Carolina $48,996 Missouri $48,985 Florida $48,784 Montana $48,676 Nebraska $48,573

Kentucky $48,516 South Carolina $48,310 Tennessee $48,181 Idaho $48,129 New Mexico $47,753 Oklahoma $47,671 Alabama $47,366 South Dakota $46,856

Arkansas $46,577 West Virginia $46,428 Mississippi $45,979

Top Paying Cities for Machine Operator IIIs

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:

Lincoln: $54,038
Little Creek: $53,538
Magnolia: $53,760

Lincoln, DE $54,038 Little Creek, DE $53,538 Magnolia, DE $53,760 Milford, DE $54,038 Marydel, DE $53,337 Millsboro, DE $54,038 Millville, DE $54,399 Milton, DE $54,038

Nassau, DE $54,038 Ocean View, DE $54,399 Rehoboth Beach, DE $54,399 Seaford, DE $53,471 Selbyville, DE $54,399 Smyrna, DE $53,275 Viola, DE $53,760 Woodside, DE $53,605

Bear, DE $52,883 Newark, DE $52,904 Claymont, DE $52,945 Delaware City, DE $52,904 Hockessin, DE $52,945 Kirkwood, DE $52,904 Middletown, DE $53,167 Montchanin, DE $52,945

New Castle, DE $52,945 Odessa, DE $53,239 Port Penn, DE $52,759 Rockland, DE $52,945 Saint Georges, DE $52,904 Townsend, DE $53,161 Winterthur, DE $52,945 Lewes, DE $54,038

Wilmington, DE $52,945 Dover, DE $53,512 Dover Afb, DE $53,636 Bethany Beach, DE $54,399 Bethel, DE $53,471 Bridgeville, DE $54,038 Camden Wyoming, DE $53,569 Cheswold, DE $53,388

Clayton, DE $53,254 Dagsboro, DE $54,399 Delmar, DE $53,471 Ellendale, DE $54,038 Felton, DE $54,038 Fenwick Island, DE $54,399 Frankford, DE $54,399 Frederica, DE $54,038

Georgetown, DE $54,038 Greenwood, DE $54,038 Harbeson, DE $54,038 Harrington, DE $54,038 Hartly, DE $53,228 Houston, DE $54,038 Kenton, DE $53,254 Laurel, DE $53,471

Yorklyn, DE $52,945

Machine Operator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Machine Operator III'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 18, 2021

$47,462

Average $52,331/year

$57,904

$3,955

Average $4,361/month

$4,825

$913

Average $1,006/week

$1,114

$23

Average $25/hour

$28

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$57,904	$4,825	$1,114	$28
Average	$52,331	$4,361	$1,006	$25
25th Percentile	$47,462	$3,955	$913	$23

Machine Operator III Salary Growth & Career Path

Machine Operator III

Machine Operator IV

Machinist IV

CNC Machine Operator III

Packaging Supervisor

Machine Operator Supervisor

Machine Shop Production Supervisor I

Packaging Manager

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Machine Operator III, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Machine Operator III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Machine Operator IV	$65,788	26%
Machinist IV	$74,354	42%
CNC Machine Operator III	$72,306	38%
Packaging Supervisor	$85,624	64%

Salaries of jobs related to Machine Operator III

Find Your Next Machine Operator III Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Machine Operator III 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.

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.5% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine 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

Click or scroll to view lower level job