Best states for an elevator operator

Q: What is the best state for elevator operators?

The best state to be an elevator operator is Minnesota based on elevator operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for elevator operators?

The highest paying state for elevator operators is Maine based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for elevator operators?

The worst state for elevator operators is Virginia, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming an elevator operator and really want to work at Cargill? Turns out, your chances to become an elevator operator are better in some states than others.In order to help you decide which state is the best for elevator operators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for elevator operator jobs.

We figured that the best places for elevator operator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for elevator operators, and the Midwest is the worst. Moorhead, MN is the best city in the country for elevator operator jobs, where as Minnesota is the best state in the country.

10 best states for elevator operators in 2025

1. Minnesota
Total elevator operator jobs: 17
Average annual salary: $46,192
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.24
Elevator operator jobs in Minnesota
2. Idaho
Total elevator operator jobs: 8
Average annual salary: $42,080
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
0.46
Elevator operator jobs in Idaho
3. Alaska
Total elevator operator jobs: 96
Average annual salary: $43,436
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
10.93
Elevator operator jobs in Alaska
4. Wyoming
Total elevator operator jobs: 1
Average annual salary: $44,543
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.16
Elevator operator jobs in Wyoming
5. North Carolina
Total elevator operator jobs: 19
Average annual salary: $42,061
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.19
Elevator operator jobs in North Carolina
6. Iowa
Total elevator operator jobs: 16
Average annual salary: $38,918
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.42
Elevator operator jobs in Iowa
7. North Dakota
Total elevator operator jobs: 14
Average annual salary: $39,933
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.43
Elevator operator jobs in North Dakota
8. Pennsylvania
Total elevator operator jobs: 42
Average annual salary: $38,572
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.34
Elevator operator jobs in Pennsylvania
9. Kentucky
Total elevator operator jobs: 6
Average annual salary: $40,790
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.15
Elevator operator jobs in Kentucky
10. West Virginia
Total elevator operator jobs: 1
Average annual salary: $41,706
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.06
Elevator operator jobs in West Virginia

Elevator operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an elevator operator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an elevator operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Minnesota	$46,192	$37,000	5,576,606	17
2	Idaho	$42,080	$34,000	1,716,943	8
3	Alaska	$43,436	$39,000	739,795	96
4	Wyoming	$44,543	$36,000	579,315	1
5	North Carolina	$42,061	$30,000	10,273,419	19
6	Iowa	$38,918	$30,000	3,145,711	16
7	North Dakota	$39,933	$33,000	755,393	14
8	Pennsylvania	$38,572	$27,000	12,805,537	42
9	Kentucky	$40,790	$30,000	4,454,189	6
10	West Virginia	$41,706	$30,000	1,815,857	1
11	Nevada	$37,837	$28,000	2,998,039	6
12	New Jersey	$38,883	$27,000	9,005,644	768
13	Rhode Island	$37,189	$26,000	1,059,639	139
14	Illinois	$37,687	$28,000	12,802,023	43
15	Michigan	$38,554	$28,000	9,962,311	9
16	Montana	$37,595	$31,000	1,050,493	6
17	Massachusetts	$36,788	$27,000	6,859,819	1,231
18	Arkansas	$35,987	$27,000	3,004,279	6
19	New York	$38,941	$27,000	19,849,399	28
20	Texas	$36,648	$26,000	28,304,596	48
21	Delaware	$37,286	$26,000	961,939	3
22	Oklahoma	$36,311	$27,000	3,930,864	4
23	Utah	$37,974	$30,000	3,101,833	3
24	New Mexico	$37,443	$27,000	2,088,070	2
25	Alabama	$35,448	$26,000	4,874,747	10
26	Tennessee	$35,651	$26,000	6,715,984	10
27	Missouri	$35,915	$27,000	6,113,532	19
28	Oregon	$39,349	$32,000	4,142,776	2
29	Nebraska	$34,429	$27,000	1,920,076	12
30	Hawaii	$36,015	$30,000	1,427,538	92
31	District of Columbia	$36,664	$25,000	693,972	113
32	South Dakota	$36,818	$29,000	869,666	1
33	Kansas	$33,995	$26,000	2,913,123	30
34	Mississippi	$36,087	$26,000	2,984,100	2
35	Georgia	$35,211	$26,000	10,429,379	21
36	Louisiana	$34,930	$25,000	4,684,333	9
37	Ohio	$34,740	$25,000	11,658,609	19
38	Wisconsin	$34,870	$27,000	5,795,483	6
39	Connecticut	$37,652	$26,000	3,588,184	2
40	Maryland	$36,838	$26,000	6,052,177	6
41	Indiana	$33,638	$25,000	6,666,818	23
42	New Hampshire	$36,180	$28,000	1,342,795	1
43	California	$35,923	$26,000	39,536,653	37
44	Florida	$34,931	$25,000	20,984,400	31
45	Vermont	$36,038	$29,000	623,657	0
46	Colorado	$33,907	$26,000	5,607,154	9
47	Washington	$30,975	$26,000	7,405,743	10
48	Maine	$28,772	$23,000	1,335,907	3
49	South Carolina	$31,456	$23,000	5,024,369	5
50	Arizona	$30,093	$22,000	7,016,270	6
51	Virginia	$28,792	$20,000	8,470,020	9

Highest paying states for elevator operators

Rank	State	Avg. Elevator Operator Salary
1	Minnesota	$46,192
2	Idaho	$42,080
3	Alaska	$43,436
4	Wyoming	$44,543
5	North Carolina	$42,061
6	Iowa	$38,918
7	North Dakota	$39,933
8	Pennsylvania	$38,572
9	Kentucky	$40,790
10	West Virginia	$41,706
11	Nevada	$37,837
12	New Jersey	$38,883
13	Rhode Island	$37,189
14	Illinois	$37,687
15	Michigan	$38,554
16	Montana	$37,595
17	Massachusetts	$36,788
18	Arkansas	$35,987
19	New York	$38,941
20	Texas	$36,648
21	Delaware	$37,286
22	Oklahoma	$36,311
23	Utah	$37,974
24	New Mexico	$37,443
25	Alabama	$35,448
26	Tennessee	$35,651
27	Missouri	$35,915
28	Oregon	$39,349
29	Nebraska	$34,429
30	Hawaii	$36,015
31	District of Columbia	$36,664
32	South Dakota	$36,818
33	Kansas	$33,995
34	Mississippi	$36,087
35	Georgia	$35,211
36	Louisiana	$34,930
37	Ohio	$34,740
38	Wisconsin	$34,870
39	Connecticut	$37,652
40	Maryland	$36,838
41	Indiana	$33,638
42	New Hampshire	$36,180
43	California	$35,923
44	Florida	$34,931
45	Vermont	$36,038
46	Colorado	$33,907
47	Washington	$30,975
48	Maine	$28,772
49	South Carolina	$31,456
50	Arizona	$30,093
51	Virginia	$28,792

Elevator operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for elevator operators?

What is the highest paying state for elevator operators?

What is the worst state for elevator operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.

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Elevator Operator
Best states for Elevator Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total elevator operator jobs:	17
Average annual salary:	$46,192
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$37,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$57,000
Location Quotient:	0.24

Best states for an elevator operator

10 best states for elevator operators in 2025

1. Minnesota

2. Idaho

3. Alaska

4. Wyoming

5. North Carolina

6. Iowa

7. North Dakota

8. Pennsylvania

9. Kentucky

10. West Virginia