Best cities for a freight handler
The best cities for freight handlers are Madison, WI, Buffalo, NY, and Wichita, KS, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for freight handlers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for freight handlers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a freight handler or considering a move, this list of the best cities for freight handlers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for freight handlers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a freight handler. While the absolute best city for freight handlers is Madison, WI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for freight handlers in 2024.
If you're looking for a freight handler job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for freight handlers in 2025
1. Madison, WI
Total freight handler jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $43,902 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 3.65 2. Buffalo, NY
Total freight handler jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $44,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 5.76 3. Wichita, KS
Total freight handler jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $35,541 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 6.94 4. Reno, NV
Total freight handler jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $38,175 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location quotient: 4.40 5. Memphis, TN
Total freight handler jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $33,247 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 4.10 6. Lincoln, NE
Total freight handler jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $36,293 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 2.34 7. Omaha, NE
Total freight handler jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $36,584 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 1.04 8. Kansas City, MO
Total freight handler jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $36,193 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 3.82 9. Minneapolis, MN
Total freight handler jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $44,818 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.68 10. Glendale, AZ
Total freight handler jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $36,619 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 1.34
Choose from 10+ customizable freight handler resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use freight handler resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your freight handler resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for freight handlers
- Madison, WI
- Buffalo, NY
- Wichita, KS
- Reno, NV
- Memphis, TN
- Lincoln, NE
- Omaha, NE
- Kansas City, MO
- Minneapolis, MN
- Glendale, AZ
- (18 freight handler jobs)
- (16 freight handler jobs)
- (16 freight handler jobs)
- (9 freight handler jobs)
- (22 freight handler jobs)
- (7 freight handler jobs)
- (6 freight handler jobs)
- (22 freight handler jobs)
- (7 freight handler jobs)
- (1 freight handler jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a freight handler
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison, WI | $43,902 | $35,000 | 252,551 | 18 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $44,659 | $36,000 | 256,902 | 16 |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | $35,541 | $28,000 | 389,902 | 16 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $38,175 | $30,000 | 245,255 | 9 |
| 5 | Memphis, TN | $33,247 | $26,000 | 652,717 | 22 |
| 6 | Lincoln, NE | $36,293 | $29,000 | 280,364 | 7 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $36,584 | $29,000 | 446,970 | 6 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $36,193 | $28,000 | 481,420 | 22 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,818 | $36,000 | 413,651 | 7 |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $36,619 | $29,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 11 | Greensboro, NC | $34,050 | $26,000 | 287,027 | 9 |
| 12 | Fort Wayne, IN | $33,617 | $26,000 | 264,488 | 5 |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $37,229 | $29,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $41,813 | $33,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $36,996 | $29,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 16 | Lexington, KY | $34,455 | $27,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $36,001 | $28,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $33,816 | $26,000 | 638,367 | 13 |
| 19 | Louisville, KY | $34,316 | $27,000 | 597,337 | 8 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $44,829 | $36,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 21 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,258 | $35,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,602 | $29,000 | 1,615,017 | 12 |
| 23 | Tucson, AZ | $36,354 | $28,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,655 | $32,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 25 | Anchorage, AK | $46,641 | $41,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $39,745 | $32,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 27 | Brookhaven, NY | $45,023 | $36,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $37,611 | $30,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 29 | Islip, NY | $44,922 | $36,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $36,960 | $29,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Boston, MA | $46,182 | $38,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 32 | Oyster Bay, NY | $44,907 | $36,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 33 | Chicago, IL | $40,039 | $32,000 | 2,704,958 | 6 |
| 34 | Hempstead, NY | $44,802 | $36,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 35 | Henderson, NV | $36,898 | $29,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 36 | New York, NY | $44,749 | $36,000 | 8,537,673 | - |
| 37 | Newark, NJ | $39,723 | $32,000 | 281,764 | 7 |
| 38 | Portland, OR | $34,543 | $28,000 | 639,863 | 30 |
| 39 | Tulsa, OK | $33,944 | $26,000 | 403,090 | 2 |
| 40 | Aurora, CO | $38,212 | $30,000 | 361,710 | 9 |
| 41 | Indianapolis, IN | $32,346 | $25,000 | 855,164 | 22 |
| 42 | Nashville, TN | $33,753 | $26,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 43 | Cincinnati, OH | $34,824 | $27,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 44 | Scottsdale, AZ | $36,564 | $29,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 45 | Chandler, AZ | $36,545 | $29,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 46 | Gilbert, AZ | $36,528 | $29,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 47 | Jacksonville, FL | $33,515 | $26,000 | 880,619 | 10 |
| 48 | Chesapeake, VA | $33,412 | $26,000 | 237,940 | 5 |
| 49 | Saint Louis, MO | $36,373 | $28,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 50 | Washington, DC | $48,052 | $38,000 | 681,170 | - |
Highest paying cities for freight handlers
| Rank | City | Avg. freight handler salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billerica, MA | $46,176 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $44,659 |
| 3 | Lakeville, MN | $44,607 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $43,902 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $43,492 |
| 6 | Bethlehem, PA | $42,175 |
| 7 | Fargo, ND | $41,105 |
| 8 | Aurora, IL | $39,809 |
| 9 | Des Moines, IA | $39,690 |
| 10 | Aurora, CO | $38,212 |
| 11 | Sparks, NV | $38,158 |
| 12 | West Valley City, UT | $37,923 |
| 13 | Aberdeen, SD | $36,991 |
| 14 | Saint Charles, MO | $36,426 |
| 15 | Kansas City, KS | $36,285 |
| 16 | Delaware, OH | $36,273 |
| 17 | Kent, WA | $36,151 |
| 18 | Fontana, CA | $34,923 |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $34,543 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $33,816 |
Freight handler best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.
Search for freight handler jobs
Updated January 8, 2025