Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a cargo handler
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for cargo handlers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for cargo handler jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of cargo handlers in America is $39,000.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for cargo handlers.We found that Indiana is the best state for cargo handler jobs, whereas New Mexico is the worst.
10 best states for cargo handlers in 2025
1. Indiana
Total cargo handler jobs: 391 Average annual salary: $37,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
2. Ohio
Total cargo handler jobs: 534 Average annual salary: $35,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
3. Vermont
Total cargo handler jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $37,832 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
4. Wisconsin
Total cargo handler jobs: 372 Average annual salary: $34,107 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
5. New Hampshire
Total cargo handler jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $35,837 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
6. Kentucky
Total cargo handler jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $33,911 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
7. Iowa
Total cargo handler jobs: 215 Average annual salary: $34,215 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
8. Minnesota
Total cargo handler jobs: 296 Average annual salary: $35,444 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
9. Rhode Island
Total cargo handler jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $37,159 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
10. Pennsylvania
Total cargo handler jobs: 757 Average annual salary: $32,966 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
Cargo handler jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a cargo handler
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a cargo handler
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | $37,943 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 391 |
| 2 | Ohio | $35,976 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 534 |
| 3 | Vermont | $37,832 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 30 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $34,107 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 372 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $35,837 | $28,000 | 1,342,795 | 78 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $33,911 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 223 |
| 7 | Iowa | $34,215 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 215 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $35,444 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 296 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $37,159 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 38 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $32,966 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 757 |
| 11 | Alaska | $39,208 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 18 |
| 12 | Oregon | $36,016 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 167 |
| 13 | New York | $39,619 | $31,000 | 19,849,399 | 288 |
| 14 | California | $37,688 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,212 |
| 15 | Arizona | $33,420 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 375 |
| 16 | Washington | $35,551 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 289 |
| 17 | Utah | $33,604 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 129 |
| 18 | Montana | $34,604 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 32 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $35,100 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 327 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $40,777 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 11 |
| 21 | Colorado | $36,043 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 125 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $34,152 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 19 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $32,737 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 684 |
| 24 | Michigan | $32,098 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 274 |
| 25 | Idaho | $31,461 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 80 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $37,437 | $30,000 | 1,427,538 | 13 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $32,436 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 61 |
| 28 | Georgia | $31,615 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 454 |
| 29 | Illinois | $31,773 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 567 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $29,897 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 377 |
| 31 | Nevada | $31,601 | $25,000 | 2,998,039 | 68 |
| 32 | Maryland | $32,140 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 300 |
| 33 | Missouri | $32,021 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 187 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $29,737 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 118 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $31,493 | $25,000 | 579,315 | 5 |
| 36 | Maine | $30,664 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 62 |
| 37 | Kansas | $30,285 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 115 |
| 38 | Delaware | $31,983 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 33 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $32,021 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 103 |
| 40 | Texas | $31,327 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 554 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $30,417 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 103 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $30,445 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 331 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $30,012 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 158 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $29,079 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 38 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $28,281 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 124 |
| 46 | Virginia | $31,108 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 266 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $29,112 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 33 |
| 48 | Alabama | $28,612 | $22,000 | 4,874,747 | 142 |
| 49 | Florida | $29,651 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 477 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $28,846 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 50 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $24,901 | $19,000 | 2,088,070 | 27 |
Highest paying states for cargo handlers
| Rank | State | Avg. Cargo Handler Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | $37,943 |
| 2 | Ohio | $35,976 |
| 3 | Vermont | $37,832 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $34,107 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $35,837 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $33,911 |
| 7 | Iowa | $34,215 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $35,444 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $37,159 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $32,966 |
| 11 | Alaska | $39,208 |
| 12 | Oregon | $36,016 |
| 13 | New York | $39,619 |
| 14 | California | $37,688 |
| 15 | Arizona | $33,420 |
| 16 | Washington | $35,551 |
| 17 | Utah | $33,604 |
| 18 | Montana | $34,604 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $35,100 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $40,777 |
| 21 | Colorado | $36,043 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $34,152 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $32,737 |
| 24 | Michigan | $32,098 |
| 25 | Idaho | $31,461 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $37,437 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $32,436 |
| 28 | Georgia | $31,615 |
| 29 | Illinois | $31,773 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $29,897 |
| 31 | Nevada | $31,601 |
| 32 | Maryland | $32,140 |
| 33 | Missouri | $32,021 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $29,737 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $31,493 |
| 36 | Maine | $30,664 |
| 37 | Kansas | $30,285 |
| 38 | Delaware | $31,983 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $32,021 |
| 40 | Texas | $31,327 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $30,417 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $30,445 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $30,012 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $29,079 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $28,281 |
| 46 | Virginia | $31,108 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $29,112 |
| 48 | Alabama | $28,612 |
| 49 | Florida | $29,651 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $28,846 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $24,901 |
Cargo handler best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.
Search for cargo handler jobs
Updated January 8, 2025