How Much Does A Machine Operator Make? (Source: Empire Workforce) The salary of a machine operator can vary widely depending on the education, certifications, additional skills and the number of years spent in this specific position. With that being said, the average annual salary in the United States for a machine operator is $34,230 per year. The salary range usually falls between $30,109 to $39,756 per year. In the United States, the average hourly salary for a machine operator is $14.29 per hour.