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Best states for a drill operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a drill operator and really want to work at TTM Technologies? Turns out, your chances to become a drill operator are better in some states than others.As drill operators are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for drill operators. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a drill operator, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
In order to get you the best states for drill operators, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a drill operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for drill operators in 2025
1. Minnesota
Total drill operator jobs: 281 Average annual salary: $49,932 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
2. North Carolina
Total drill operator jobs: 374 Average annual salary: $48,277 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
3. Texas
Total drill operator jobs: 474 Average annual salary: $54,457 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
4. Wisconsin
Total drill operator jobs: 314 Average annual salary: $46,588 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
5. Kentucky
Total drill operator jobs: 136 Average annual salary: $47,723 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
6. Massachusetts
Total drill operator jobs: 1,214 Average annual salary: $46,180 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 3.85
7. Pennsylvania
Total drill operator jobs: 461 Average annual salary: $44,162 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
8. Wyoming
Total drill operator jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $50,252 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 0.39
9. Washington
Total drill operator jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $50,595 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.46
10. Colorado
Total drill operator jobs: 95 Average annual salary: $50,280 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.47
Drill operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a drill operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a drill operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $49,932 | $38,000 | 5,576,606 | 281 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $48,277 | $35,000 | 10,273,419 | 374 |
| 3 | Texas | $54,457 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 474 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $46,588 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 314 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $47,723 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 136 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $46,180 | $36,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,214 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $44,162 | $32,000 | 12,805,537 | 461 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $50,252 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 8 |
| 9 | Washington | $50,595 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 115 |
| 10 | Colorado | $50,280 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 95 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $45,974 | $34,000 | 9,005,644 | 880 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $47,975 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 12 |
| 13 | Virginia | $48,744 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 161 |
| 14 | Utah | $43,151 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 113 |
| 15 | Alaska | $43,474 | $36,000 | 739,795 | 95 |
| 16 | Nevada | $44,836 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 46 |
| 17 | Iowa | $42,353 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 119 |
| 18 | Maine | $44,070 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 34 |
| 19 | Alabama | $43,597 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 96 |
| 20 | Kansas | $42,147 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 84 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $45,130 | $35,000 | 755,393 | 13 |
| 22 | Oregon | $47,121 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 77 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $40,453 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 153 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $41,186 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 77 |
| 25 | Illinois | $42,195 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 341 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $39,502 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 257 |
| 27 | California | $47,670 | $34,000 | 39,536,653 | 480 |
| 28 | Arizona | $42,678 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 116 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $41,790 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 53 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $41,753 | $30,000 | 693,972 | 125 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $39,318 | $31,000 | 1,342,795 | 96 |
| 32 | Missouri | $41,309 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 132 |
| 33 | Indiana | $38,884 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 266 |
| 34 | Delaware | $41,815 | $30,000 | 961,939 | 30 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $39,636 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 59 |
| 36 | Ohio | $36,731 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 443 |
| 37 | Michigan | $38,985 | $29,000 | 9,962,311 | 194 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $40,629 | $30,000 | 3,588,184 | 86 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $40,872 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 17 |
| 40 | Vermont | $38,907 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 16 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $35,348 | $27,000 | 1,427,538 | 104 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $32,991 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 170 |
| 43 | Georgia | $31,850 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 442 |
| 44 | Montana | $29,633 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 87 |
| 45 | Idaho | $31,266 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 54 |
| 46 | Florida | $32,750 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 343 |
| 47 | New York | $37,423 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 201 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $32,622 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 61 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $29,205 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 26 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $28,886 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 58 |
| 51 | Maryland | $28,608 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 105 |
Highest paying states for drill operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Drill Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $49,932 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $48,277 |
| 3 | Texas | $54,457 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $46,588 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $47,723 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $46,180 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $44,162 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $50,252 |
| 9 | Washington | $50,595 |
| 10 | Colorado | $50,280 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $45,974 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $47,975 |
| 13 | Virginia | $48,744 |
| 14 | Utah | $43,151 |
| 15 | Alaska | $43,474 |
| 16 | Nevada | $44,836 |
| 17 | Iowa | $42,353 |
| 18 | Maine | $44,070 |
| 19 | Alabama | $43,597 |
| 20 | Kansas | $42,147 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $45,130 |
| 22 | Oregon | $47,121 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $40,453 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $41,186 |
| 25 | Illinois | $42,195 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $39,502 |
| 27 | California | $47,670 |
| 28 | Arizona | $42,678 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $41,790 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $41,753 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $39,318 |
| 32 | Missouri | $41,309 |
| 33 | Indiana | $38,884 |
| 34 | Delaware | $41,815 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $39,636 |
| 36 | Ohio | $36,731 |
| 37 | Michigan | $38,985 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $40,629 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $40,872 |
| 40 | Vermont | $38,907 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $35,348 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $32,991 |
| 43 | Georgia | $31,850 |
| 44 | Montana | $29,633 |
| 45 | Idaho | $31,266 |
| 46 | Florida | $32,750 |
| 47 | New York | $37,423 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $32,622 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $29,205 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $28,886 |
| 51 | Maryland | $28,608 |
Drill operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025