Best cities for an excavator operator
The best cities for excavator operators are Louisville, KY, Detroit, MI, and Omaha, NE, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for excavator operators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for excavator operators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an excavator operator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for excavator operators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for excavator operators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an excavator operator. While the absolute best city for excavator operators is Louisville, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for excavator operators in 2024.
If you're looking for an excavator operator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for excavator operators in 2025
1. Louisville, KY
Total excavator operator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $42,944 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 1.17 2. Detroit, MI
Total excavator operator jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $43,512 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location quotient: 1.30 3. Omaha, NE
Total excavator operator jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $42,816 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 2.59 4. Glendale, AZ
Total excavator operator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $43,054 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 2.50 5. Fort Wayne, IN
Total excavator operator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $42,442 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 1.18 6. Cincinnati, OH
Total excavator operator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $44,689 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location quotient: 0.64 7. Columbus, OH
Total excavator operator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $46,320 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 0.15 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Total excavator operator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $44,650 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location quotient: 0.23 9. Baltimore, MD
Total excavator operator jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $57,289 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 0.89 10. Cleveland, OH
Total excavator operator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,028 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for excavator operators
- Louisville, KY
- Detroit, MI
- Omaha, NE
- Glendale, AZ
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Cincinnati, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Baltimore, MD
- Cleveland, OH
- (3 excavator operator jobs)
- (4 excavator operator jobs)
- (8 excavator operator jobs)
- (1 excavator operator jobs)
- (1 excavator operator jobs)
- (2 excavator operator jobs)
- (1 excavator operator jobs)
- (1 excavator operator jobs)
- (4 excavator operator jobs)
- (0 excavator operator jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an excavator operator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville, KY | $42,944 | $31,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $43,512 | $30,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $42,816 | $32,000 | 446,970 | 8 |
| 4 | Glendale, AZ | $43,054 | $31,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $42,442 | $30,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $44,689 | $32,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $46,320 | $33,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $44,650 | $31,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $57,289 | $39,000 | 614,664 | 4 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $49,028 | $34,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $56,706 | $40,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 12 | Toledo, OH | $47,976 | $34,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 13 | North Las Vegas, NV | $56,619 | $40,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 14 | Lexington, KY | $43,199 | $31,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $60,014 | $42,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $56,454 | $40,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,679 | $32,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,704 | $32,000 | 413,651 | 7 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $43,279 | $31,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 20 | Boston, MA | $61,765 | $43,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 21 | Denver, CO | $45,207 | $33,000 | 693,060 | 20 |
| 22 | New Orleans, LA | $41,619 | $30,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,033 | $31,000 | 1,615,017 | 7 |
| 24 | Madison, WI | $42,975 | $31,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 25 | Anchorage, AK | $52,103 | $44,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 26 | Colorado Springs, CO | $44,967 | $33,000 | 465,101 | 4 |
| 27 | Indianapolis, IN | $40,898 | $29,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 28 | Brookhaven, NY | $51,801 | $35,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 29 | Islip, NY | $51,682 | $35,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 30 | Lincoln, NE | $42,544 | $31,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 31 | Oyster Bay, NY | $51,616 | $35,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 32 | Aurora, CO | $45,164 | $33,000 | 361,710 | 2 |
| 33 | Hempstead, NY | $51,517 | $35,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 34 | New York, NY | $51,419 | $35,000 | 8,537,673 | 1 |
| 35 | Portland, OR | $48,025 | $35,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 36 | Winston-Salem, NC | $38,756 | $28,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 37 | Jersey City, NJ | $49,110 | $33,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 38 | Newark, NJ | $49,084 | $33,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 39 | Seattle, WA | $48,245 | $36,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 40 | Wichita, KS | $39,553 | $29,000 | 389,902 | 1 |
| 41 | Buffalo, NY | $50,281 | $35,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $42,996 | $31,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 43 | Durham, NC | $39,173 | $28,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 44 | Chandler, AZ | $42,829 | $31,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 45 | Mesa, AZ | $42,826 | $31,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 46 | Gilbert, AZ | $42,797 | $31,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 47 | Washington, DC | $56,150 | $38,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $42,118 | $31,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 49 | Saint Paul, MN | $43,701 | $32,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 50 | Kansas City, MO | $41,464 | $31,000 | 481,420 | - |
Highest paying cities for excavator operators
| Rank | City | Avg. excavator operator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $57,289 |
| 2 | Schenectady, NY | $51,922 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $49,028 |
| 4 | Grand Junction, CO | $46,460 |
| 5 | Alhambra, CA | $45,911 |
| 6 | Charleston, WV | $44,922 |
| 7 | Bismarck, ND | $44,403 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,704 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $43,671 |
| 10 | Avondale, AZ | $43,041 |
| 11 | Kearney, NE | $42,649 |
| 12 | Chesapeake, VA | $42,059 |
| 13 | Des Moines, IA | $41,740 |
| 14 | Bloomington, IL | $41,453 |
| 15 | Charleston, SC | $40,769 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $37,907 |
| 17 | Asheville, NC | $37,849 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $37,164 |
| 19 | Duluth, GA | $36,273 |
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Updated January 8, 2025