Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Salary in the United States

How much does an Assembly Technician/Machine Operator make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for an Assembly Technician/Machine Operator in the United States is $46,505 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $56,056
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,215 to $51,505
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,308
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
Smart Recruiting
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $42,215 10% $38,308 90% $56,056 75% $51,505 $46,505 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $51,505 $4,292 $990 $25
Average $46,505 $3,875 $894 $22
25th Percentile $42,215 $3,518 $812 $20
Check out Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Job Openings in the United States
ASSEMBLY OPERATOR

Spherion - Dundee, OH

ASSEMBLY OPERATOR

Spherion - Dalton, OH

ASSEMBLY OPERATOR

Spherion - Kidron, OH

LIGHT ASSEMBLY OPERATOR

Spherion - Baltic, OH

Search More Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Jobs in the United States
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Salaries

An Assembly Technician/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 Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assembly Technician/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): $41,521
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,135
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $52,316
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $65,769
  • Expert (over 8 years): $91,741
Levels Salary
Machine O... Level Assembly Technician/Machine Operator$41,521
Assembly ... Level Assembly Technician/Machine Operator$46,135
Machine O... Level Assembly Technician/Machine Operator$52,316
Machine O... Level Assembly Technician/Machine Operator$65,769
Machine O... Level Assembly Technician/Machine Operator$91,741
$41,521 0 yr
$46,135 < 2 yrs
$52,316 2-4 yrs
$65,769 5-8 yrs
$91,741 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Assembly Technician/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 Assembly Technician/Machine Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $51,491.
  • California: $51,296.
  • Massachusetts: $50,612.

Top Paying Cities for Assembly Technician/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: $58,657
  • San Francisco: $58,081
  • Oakland: $56,793

What Skills Can Increase an Assembly Technician/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 an Assembly Technician/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
 $50,226
8%
Dedication
 $49,761
7%
Collaboration
 $48,366
4%
Leadership
 $47,901
3%
Initiative
 $47,901
3%
SOP
 $47,436
2%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts an Assembly Technician/Machine Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assembly Technician/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 an Assembly Technician/Machine Operator with a No Diploma is between $44,700 and $47,709).

Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assembly Technician/Machine Operator
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

Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assembly Technician/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 May 18, 2021
$42,215
Average $46,505/year
$51,505
$3,518
Average $3,875/month
$4,292
$812
Average $894/week
$990
$20
Average $22/hour
$25
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $51,505 $4,292 $990 $25
Average $46,505 $3,875 $894 $22
25th Percentile $42,215 $3,518 $812 $20

Salaries of jobs related to Assembly Technician/Machine Operator

Salary Trends for Assembly Technician/Machine Operator

Salaries for an Assembly Technician/Machine Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $42,685 in 2023 to around $42,723 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Assembly Technician/Machine Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,685
2024
$42,839
2025
$42,723
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,685
2024 $42,839
2025 $42,723
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Assembly Technician/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 Assembly Technician/Machine Operator

Here are companies hiring for Assembly Technician/Machine Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Assembly Technician/Machine Operator Job

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

United States
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 CompAnalyst