Best cities for an equipment operator
The best cities for equipment operators are Stockton, CA, Louisville, KY, and Fort Wayne, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for equipment operators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for equipment operators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an equipment operator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for equipment operators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for equipment operators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an equipment operator. While the absolute best city for equipment operators is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for equipment operators in 2024.
If you're looking for an equipment operator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for equipment operators in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Equipment operator jobs in StocktonTotal equipment operator jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $43,452 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 6.43 2. Louisville, KY
Equipment operator jobs in LouisvilleTotal equipment operator jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $33,386 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 2.63 3. Fort Wayne, IN
Equipment operator jobs in Fort WayneTotal equipment operator jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $36,630 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 1.01 4. Toledo, OH
Equipment operator jobs in ToledoTotal equipment operator jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $34,519 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 1.17 5. Bakersfield, CA
Equipment operator jobs in BakersfieldTotal equipment operator jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $42,354 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 2.89 6. Columbus, OH
Equipment operator jobs in ColumbusTotal equipment operator jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $34,257 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 1.01 7. Indianapolis, IN
Equipment operator jobs in IndianapolisTotal equipment operator jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $35,980 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 0.89 8. Riverside, CA
Equipment operator jobs in RiversideTotal equipment operator jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $40,967 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 2.73 9. Cincinnati, OH
Equipment operator jobs in CincinnatiTotal equipment operator jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $33,541 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.73 10. Sacramento, CA
Equipment operator jobs in SacramentoTotal equipment operator jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $43,316 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 0.85
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Best cities for equipment operators
- Stockton, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Toledo, OH
- Bakersfield, CA
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- Riverside, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Sacramento, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for an equipment operator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $43,452 | $31,000 | 307,072 | 35 |
| 2 | Louisville, KY | $33,386 | $26,000 | 597,337 | 71 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $36,630 | $28,000 | 264,488 | 9 |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $34,519 | $27,000 | 278,508 | 8 |
| 5 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,354 | $31,000 | 376,380 | 20 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $34,257 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 69 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $35,980 | $28,000 | 855,164 | 54 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $40,967 | $30,000 | 324,722 | 25 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $33,541 | $26,000 | 298,800 | 24 |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $43,316 | $31,000 | 495,234 | 27 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $34,576 | $26,000 | 303,625 | 23 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $33,967 | $27,000 | 252,551 | 24 |
| 13 | Long Beach, CA | $41,186 | $30,000 | 470,130 | 10 |
| 14 | Aurora, CO | $35,144 | $27,000 | 361,710 | 32 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $33,734 | $26,000 | 481,420 | 32 |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $32,404 | $24,000 | 245,255 | 17 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $25,776 | $20,000 | 652,717 | 61 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,829 | $27,000 | 1,567,872 | 20 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $33,760 | $26,000 | 672,795 | 16 |
| 20 | Newark, NJ | $40,770 | $31,000 | 281,764 | 6 |
| 21 | Norfolk, VA | $30,452 | $23,000 | 245,115 | 45 |
| 22 | Anchorage, AK | $37,586 | $33,000 | 298,192 | 6 |
| 23 | Saint Paul, MN | $35,054 | $28,000 | 302,398 | 15 |
| 24 | Colorado Springs, CO | $34,241 | $26,000 | 465,101 | 40 |
| 25 | Denver, CO | $35,206 | $27,000 | 693,060 | 113 |
| 26 | Cleveland, OH | $34,648 | $27,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 27 | Chesapeake, VA | $30,351 | $23,000 | 237,940 | 10 |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $44,740 | $35,000 | 673,184 | 21 |
| 29 | Anaheim, CA | $41,117 | $30,000 | 351,043 | 4 |
| 30 | Omaha, NE | $32,176 | $25,000 | 446,970 | 28 |
| 31 | Wichita, KS | $26,382 | $20,000 | 389,902 | 16 |
| 32 | Portland, OR | $37,901 | $29,000 | 639,863 | 23 |
| 33 | Raleigh, NC | $26,515 | $20,000 | 458,880 | 70 |
| 34 | Seattle, WA | $39,832 | $31,000 | 704,352 | 21 |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,045 | $28,000 | 413,651 | 20 |
| 36 | Corpus Christi, TX | $24,028 | $18,000 | 325,733 | 16 |
| 37 | El Paso, TX | $26,081 | $19,000 | 683,080 | 15 |
| 38 | Laredo, TX | $24,332 | $18,000 | 257,156 | 5 |
| 39 | Chandler, AZ | $27,787 | $20,000 | 247,477 | 18 |
| 40 | Garland, TX | $23,882 | $19,000 | 234,943 | 27 |
| 41 | Fresno, CA | $43,090 | $31,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 42 | Lubbock, TX | $24,806 | $19,000 | 252,506 | 7 |
| 43 | San Jose, CA | $43,728 | $31,000 | 1,025,350 | 16 |
| 44 | Chicago, IL | $38,147 | $30,000 | 2,704,958 | 14 |
| 45 | Tucson, AZ | $27,081 | $20,000 | 530,706 | 21 |
| 46 | Fort Worth, TX | $23,915 | $19,000 | 854,113 | 47 |
| 47 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,358 | $23,000 | 632,912 | 18 |
| 48 | Jersey City, NJ | $40,772 | $31,000 | 264,152 | 1 |
| 49 | Lincoln, NE | $31,979 | $25,000 | 280,364 | 7 |
| 50 | Oklahoma City, OK | $23,304 | $18,000 | 638,367 | 45 |
Highest paying cities for equipment operators
| Rank | City | Avg. equipment operator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis, IN | $35,980 |
| 2 | Albany, NY | $35,972 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $35,206 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $34,257 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,548 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $32,132 |
| 7 | Norfolk, VA | $30,452 |
| 8 | Buckeye, AZ | $28,090 |
| 9 | Garden City, KS | $27,027 |
| 10 | Franklin, TN | $26,934 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $26,515 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $24,069 |
| 13 | Columbus, GA | $24,050 |
| 14 | Jacksonville, FL | $23,123 |
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Updated January 8, 2025