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This question is about equipment operator salaries.
What is a good starting salary for an Equipment Operator?
A good starting salary for an equipment operator is $24,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for an equipment operator in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for equipment operators is $30,204, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for an equipment operator can vary by state, as we show below.
What Is A Good Entry-Level Equipment Operator Salary By State?
The following table shows how much an entry level equipment operator earns in each state. Zippia used data from the BLS, public records, and job postings to create these estimates.
| State | Starting Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Alaska | $45,000 | $3,750 | $865 | $21.63 |
| Massachusetts | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
| New Jersey | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| Washington | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| New Hampshire | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| Minnesota | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| Connecticut | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| West Virginia | $29,000 | $2,416 | $557 | $13.94 |
| Illinois | $29,000 | $2,416 | $557 | $13.94 |
| Indiana | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| North Dakota | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Wisconsin | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Hawaii | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Colorado | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Pennsylvania | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Ohio | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Wyoming | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| California | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Michigan | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Vermont | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Missouri | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Maryland | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| New York | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Kentucky | $26,000 | $2,166 | $500 | $12.5 |
| Iowa | $26,000 | $2,166 | $500 | $12.5 |
| Nebraska | $26,000 | $2,166 | $500 | $12.5 |
| Oregon | $26,000 | $2,166 | $500 | $12.5 |
| South Dakota | $26,000 | $2,166 | $500 | $12.5 |
| Utah | $25,000 | $2,083 | $480 | $12.02 |
| Montana | $25,000 | $2,083 | $480 | $12.02 |
| Rhode Island | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Maine | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| District of Columbia | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Delaware | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Virginia | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Kansas | $23,000 | $1,916 | $442 | $11.06 |
| Tennessee | $22,000 | $1,833 | $423 | $10.58 |
| Idaho | $22,000 | $1,833 | $423 | $10.58 |
| Georgia | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| Florida | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| South Carolina | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| Nevada | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| North Carolina | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| Louisiana | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| New Mexico | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| Texas | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| Oklahoma | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Alabama | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Mississippi | $18,000 | $1,500 | $346 | $8.65 |
| Arkansas | $18,000 | $1,500 | $346 | $8.65 |
| Arizona | $18,000 | $1,500 | $346 | $8.65 |
What are The 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entry-Level Equipment Operator Jobs?
We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an entry level equipment operator job is above the national average. Topping the list is Riverside, CA.
| City | Starting Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Riverside, CA | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
| Denver, CO | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
| Columbus, OH | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| Fargo, ND | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| Syracuse, NY | $29,000 | $2,416 | $557 | $13.94 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Norfolk, VA | $26,000 | $2,166 | $500 | $12.5 |
| Garden City, KS | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Memphis, TN | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
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