Best states for an equipment operator

Q: What is the best state for equipment operators?

The best state to be an equipment operator is Massachusetts based on equipment operator salaries and job opportunities.

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

The highest paying state for equipment operators is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for equipment operators?

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

Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming an equipment operator and really want to work at Schlumberger? Turns out, your chances to become an equipment operator are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for equipment operators. We found that Massachusetts is the best state in the nation for equipment operators, and people in Greenwich earn the most in the field.

Massachusetts is the best state for jobs for equipment operators, and Texas is the worst. The most common pay in Massachusetts is $44,767, while the median pay in Texas is $24,068.Massachusetts is the best state, and Greenwich is the city with the highest pay for equipment operators.

10 best states for equipment operators in 2026

1. Massachusetts
Total equipment operator jobs: 1,376
Average annual salary: $44,767
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
2.88
Equipment operator jobs in Massachusetts
2. New Jersey
Total equipment operator jobs: 969
Average annual salary: $40,772
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
2.34
Equipment operator jobs in New Jersey
3. Alaska
Total equipment operator jobs: 130
Average annual salary: $37,540
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
2.99
Equipment operator jobs in Alaska
4. Indiana
Total equipment operator jobs: 402
Average annual salary: $35,988
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Equipment operator jobs in Indiana
5. Pennsylvania
Total equipment operator jobs: 751
Average annual salary: $34,803
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Equipment operator jobs in Pennsylvania
6. New Hampshire
Total equipment operator jobs: 66
Average annual salary: $44,909
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Equipment operator jobs in New Hampshire
7. Connecticut
Total equipment operator jobs: 88
Average annual salary: $45,629
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.51
Equipment operator jobs in Connecticut
8. California
Total equipment operator jobs: 1,361
Average annual salary: $41,909
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Equipment operator jobs in California
9. Washington
Total equipment operator jobs: 287
Average annual salary: $39,758
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
0.75
Equipment operator jobs in Washington
10. Illinois
Total equipment operator jobs: 480
Average annual salary: $38,047
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Equipment operator jobs in Illinois

Equipment operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an equipment operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for an equipment operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Massachusetts	$44,767	$35,000	6,859,819	1,376
2	New Jersey	$40,772	$31,000	9,005,644	969
3	Alaska	$37,540	$33,000	739,795	130
4	Indiana	$35,988	$28,000	6,666,818	402
5	Pennsylvania	$34,803	$27,000	12,805,537	751
6	New Hampshire	$44,909	$36,000	1,342,795	66
7	Connecticut	$45,629	$36,000	3,588,184	88
8	California	$41,909	$30,000	39,536,653	1,361
9	Washington	$39,758	$31,000	7,405,743	287
10	Illinois	$38,047	$30,000	12,802,023	480
11	Utah	$33,517	$25,000	3,101,833	246
12	Iowa	$32,726	$26,000	3,145,711	278
13	Kentucky	$33,169	$25,000	4,454,189	235
14	Wyoming	$32,712	$26,000	579,315	39
15	Ohio	$34,294	$26,000	11,658,609	449
16	Wisconsin	$33,898	$27,000	5,795,483	286
17	Oregon	$38,017	$29,000	4,142,776	0
18	North Dakota	$32,005	$27,000	755,393	68
19	Colorado	$35,060	$27,000	5,607,154	316
20	Minnesota	$35,034	$28,000	5,576,606	273
21	Vermont	$32,844	$26,000	623,657	49
22	Michigan	$33,722	$26,000	9,962,311	260
23	Missouri	$33,303	$26,000	6,113,532	255
24	New York	$36,286	$28,000	19,849,399	373
25	Rhode Island	$30,344	$24,000	1,059,639	169
26	Montana	$30,030	$24,000	1,050,493	180
27	Nebraska	$32,077	$25,000	1,920,076	134
28	Maryland	$34,787	$27,000	6,052,177	260
29	Nevada	$31,534	$23,000	2,998,039	126
30	Maine	$30,499	$24,000	1,335,907	96
31	Idaho	$29,386	$22,000	1,716,943	148
32	Hawaii	$30,487	$25,000	1,427,538	140
33	South Dakota	$30,793	$25,000	869,666	44
34	District of Columbia	$29,991	$23,000	693,972	142
35	Tennessee	$26,887	$21,000	6,715,984	452
36	West Virginia	$27,794	$21,000	1,815,857	87
37	Delaware	$30,324	$23,000	961,939	54
38	Kansas	$27,670	$21,000	2,913,123	175
39	Virginia	$30,644	$23,000	8,470,020	354
40	North Carolina	$25,987	$20,000	10,273,419	585
41	Arizona	$27,776	$21,000	7,016,270	292
42	Georgia	$24,593	$19,000	10,429,379	665
43	Mississippi	$21,157	$16,000	2,984,100	189
44	Oklahoma	$23,390	$18,000	3,930,864	169
45	Louisiana	$23,511	$18,000	4,684,333	180
46	New Mexico	$27,070	$20,000	2,088,070	0
47	Arkansas	$21,584	$17,000	3,004,279	152
48	Alabama	$21,733	$17,000	4,874,747	243
49	South Carolina	$24,373	$18,000	5,024,369	0
50	Florida	$22,903	$17,000	20,984,400	795
51	Texas	$24,068	$18,000	28,304,596	0

Highest paying states for equipment operators

Rank	State	Avg. Equipment Operator Salary
1	Massachusetts	$44,767
2	New Jersey	$40,772
3	Alaska	$37,540
4	Indiana	$35,988
5	Pennsylvania	$34,803
6	New Hampshire	$44,909
7	Connecticut	$45,629
8	California	$41,909
9	Washington	$39,758
10	Illinois	$38,047
11	Utah	$33,517
12	Iowa	$32,726
13	Kentucky	$33,169
14	Wyoming	$32,712
15	Ohio	$34,294
16	Wisconsin	$33,898
17	Oregon	$38,017
18	North Dakota	$32,005
19	Colorado	$35,060
20	Minnesota	$35,034
21	Vermont	$32,844
22	Michigan	$33,722
23	Missouri	$33,303
24	New York	$36,286
25	Rhode Island	$30,344
26	Montana	$30,030
27	Nebraska	$32,077
28	Maryland	$34,787
29	Nevada	$31,534
30	Maine	$30,499
31	Idaho	$29,386
32	Hawaii	$30,487
33	South Dakota	$30,793
34	District of Columbia	$29,991
35	Tennessee	$26,887
36	West Virginia	$27,794
37	Delaware	$30,324
38	Kansas	$27,670
39	Virginia	$30,644
40	North Carolina	$25,987
41	Arizona	$27,776
42	Georgia	$24,593
43	Mississippi	$21,157
44	Oklahoma	$23,390
45	Louisiana	$23,511
46	New Mexico	$27,070
47	Arkansas	$21,584
48	Alabama	$21,733
49	South Carolina	$24,373
50	Florida	$22,903
51	Texas	$24,068

Equipment operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for equipment operators?

What is the highest paying state for equipment operators?

What is the worst state for equipment operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common construction and extraction questions.

Search for equipment operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total equipment operator jobs:	1,376
Average annual salary:	$44,767
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$56,000
Location Quotient:	2.88

Best states for an equipment operator

10 best states for equipment operators in 2026

1. Massachusetts

2. New Jersey

3. Alaska

4. Indiana

5. Pennsylvania

6. New Hampshire

7. Connecticut

8. California

9. Washington

10. Illinois