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Best states for a freight handler
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Freight handler opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for freight handlers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for freight handlers.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for freight handlers. We found that Wisconsin is the best state in the nation for freight handlers, and people in Fairbanks earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for freight handlers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for freight handlers, and the Northeast is the worst. Billerica, MA is the best city in the country for freight handler jobs, where as Wisconsin is the best state in the country.
10 best states for freight handlers in 2026
1. Wisconsin
Total freight handler jobs: 580 Average annual salary: $44,265 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
2. Pennsylvania
Total freight handler jobs: 1,363 Average annual salary: $41,686 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
3. Maine
Total freight handler jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $43,518 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
4. Vermont
Total freight handler jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $45,258 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
5. Minnesota
Total freight handler jobs: 536 Average annual salary: $44,866 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. Iowa
Total freight handler jobs: 334 Average annual salary: $40,198 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
7. New Hampshire
Total freight handler jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $41,285 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
8. Massachusetts
Total freight handler jobs: 553 Average annual salary: $46,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
9. Michigan
Total freight handler jobs: 605 Average annual salary: $39,713 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
10. New York
Total freight handler jobs: 757 Average annual salary: $44,818 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
Freight handler jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a freight handler
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a freight handler
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $44,265 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 580 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $41,686 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,363 |
| 3 | Maine | $43,518 | $37,000 | 1,335,907 | 113 |
| 4 | Vermont | $45,258 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 62 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $44,866 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 536 |
| 6 | Iowa | $40,198 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 334 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,285 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 155 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $46,118 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 553 |
| 9 | Michigan | $39,713 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 605 |
| 10 | New York | $44,818 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 757 |
| 11 | Alaska | $46,597 | $41,000 | 739,795 | 32 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $41,453 | $34,000 | 1,059,639 | 75 |
| 13 | Illinois | $39,810 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,048 |
| 14 | Ohio | $36,526 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,034 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $39,583 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,101 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $40,965 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 46 |
| 17 | Utah | $37,920 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 261 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $48,013 | $38,000 | 693,972 | 16 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $40,925 | $33,000 | 3,588,184 | 213 |
| 20 | Maryland | $39,616 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 597 |
| 21 | Montana | $39,558 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 70 |
| 22 | Nevada | $37,186 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 150 |
| 23 | Kansas | $36,033 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 247 |
| 24 | Arizona | $36,563 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 498 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $34,294 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 390 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $33,586 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 734 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $35,773 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 67 |
| 28 | Missouri | $36,142 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 403 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $36,463 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 113 |
| 30 | Idaho | $34,779 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 141 |
| 31 | Delaware | $38,093 | $30,000 | 961,939 | 57 |
| 32 | Colorado | $38,198 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 284 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $35,060 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 309 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $33,806 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 653 |
| 35 | Oregon | $34,523 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 306 |
| 36 | Washington | $36,109 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 430 |
| 37 | Indiana | $32,587 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 663 |
| 38 | California | $35,347 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,056 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $38,746 | $34,000 | 1,427,538 | 31 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $31,727 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 237 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $34,841 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 19 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $33,509 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 72 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $33,879 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 178 |
| 44 | Georgia | $32,292 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 927 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $31,935 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 177 |
| 46 | Florida | $33,374 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 883 |
| 47 | Virginia | $33,900 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 510 |
| 48 | Alabama | $31,162 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 239 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $32,378 | $25,000 | 2,088,070 | 62 |
| 50 | Texas | $30,888 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,148 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $30,311 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 130 |
Highest paying states for freight handlers
| Rank | State | Avg. Freight Handler Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $44,265 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $41,686 |
| 3 | Maine | $43,518 |
| 4 | Vermont | $45,258 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $44,866 |
| 6 | Iowa | $40,198 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,285 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $46,118 |
| 9 | Michigan | $39,713 |
| 10 | New York | $44,818 |
| 11 | Alaska | $46,597 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $41,453 |
| 13 | Illinois | $39,810 |
| 14 | Ohio | $36,526 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $39,583 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $40,965 |
| 17 | Utah | $37,920 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $48,013 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $40,925 |
| 20 | Maryland | $39,616 |
| 21 | Montana | $39,558 |
| 22 | Nevada | $37,186 |
| 23 | Kansas | $36,033 |
| 24 | Arizona | $36,563 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $34,294 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $33,586 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $35,773 |
| 28 | Missouri | $36,142 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $36,463 |
| 30 | Idaho | $34,779 |
| 31 | Delaware | $38,093 |
| 32 | Colorado | $38,198 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $35,060 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $33,806 |
| 35 | Oregon | $34,523 |
| 36 | Washington | $36,109 |
| 37 | Indiana | $32,587 |
| 38 | California | $35,347 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $38,746 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $31,727 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $34,841 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $33,509 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $33,879 |
| 44 | Georgia | $32,292 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $31,935 |
| 46 | Florida | $33,374 |
| 47 | Virginia | $33,900 |
| 48 | Alabama | $31,162 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $32,378 |
| 50 | Texas | $30,888 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $30,311 |
Freight handler best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025