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Best states for a furnace operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for furnace operators? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for furnace operator jobs.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for furnace operators. We found that New Jersey is the best state in the nation for furnace operators, and people in Riverhead earn the most in the field.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for furnace operators.We found that New Jersey is the best state for furnace operator jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for furnace operators in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total furnace operator jobs: 782 Average annual salary: $56,998 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.81
2. Iowa
Total furnace operator jobs: 289 Average annual salary: $54,148 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
3. Wisconsin
Total furnace operator jobs: 638 Average annual salary: $42,131 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 2.12
4. Alaska
Total furnace operator jobs: 95 Average annual salary: $44,940 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 2.09
5. Kansas
Total furnace operator jobs: 138 Average annual salary: $51,748 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
6. Indiana
Total furnace operator jobs: 676 Average annual salary: $41,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
7. Maine
Total furnace operator jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $50,971 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
8. Arkansas
Total furnace operator jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $48,096 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
9. New York
Total furnace operator jobs: 346 Average annual salary: $57,107 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.5
10. Massachusetts
Total furnace operator jobs: 1,232 Average annual salary: $42,004 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 2.47
Furnace operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a furnace operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a furnace operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $56,998 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 782 |
| 2 | Iowa | $54,148 | $43,000 | 3,145,711 | 289 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $42,131 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 638 |
| 4 | Alaska | $44,940 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 95 |
| 5 | Kansas | $51,748 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 138 |
| 6 | Indiana | $41,413 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 676 |
| 7 | Maine | $50,971 | $44,000 | 1,335,907 | 61 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $48,096 | $38,000 | 3,004,279 | 103 |
| 9 | New York | $57,107 | $46,000 | 19,849,399 | 346 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $42,004 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,232 |
| 11 | Idaho | $50,293 | $40,000 | 1,716,943 | 46 |
| 12 | Illinois | $41,087 | $33,000 | 12,802,023 | 800 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $40,656 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 165 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $40,576 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 42 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $39,869 | $32,000 | 1,920,076 | 128 |
| 16 | Oregon | $42,129 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 144 |
| 17 | Montana | $42,635 | $35,000 | 1,050,493 | 10 |
| 18 | Michigan | $39,856 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 424 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $40,912 | $33,000 | 3,588,184 | 168 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $38,062 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 262 |
| 21 | Washington | $41,813 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 194 |
| 22 | Nevada | $39,510 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 60 |
| 23 | Missouri | $38,745 | $31,000 | 6,113,532 | 319 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $39,573 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 23 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $40,381 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 14 |
| 26 | Vermont | $40,365 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 21 |
| 27 | Arizona | $38,835 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 213 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $38,715 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 92 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $38,816 | $32,000 | 755,393 | 23 |
| 30 | Utah | $37,282 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 198 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $37,247 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 216 |
| 32 | Maryland | $40,736 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 157 |
| 33 | Colorado | $40,028 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 141 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $36,746 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 585 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $34,662 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 140 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $35,908 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 118 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $35,399 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 752 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $35,096 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 631 |
| 39 | Virginia | $39,203 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 229 |
| 40 | Ohio | $33,249 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 820 |
| 41 | California | $38,060 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,107 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $31,859 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 416 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $33,333 | $26,000 | 693,972 | 114 |
| 44 | Georgia | $30,914 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 759 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $34,799 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 70 |
| 46 | Delaware | $33,937 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 31 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $33,814 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 5 |
| 48 | Texas | $31,151 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 724 |
| 49 | Alabama | $30,020 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 172 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $32,096 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 59 |
| 51 | Florida | $30,181 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 564 |
Highest paying states for furnace operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Furnace Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $56,998 |
| 2 | Iowa | $54,148 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $42,131 |
| 4 | Alaska | $44,940 |
| 5 | Kansas | $51,748 |
| 6 | Indiana | $41,413 |
| 7 | Maine | $50,971 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $48,096 |
| 9 | New York | $57,107 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $42,004 |
| 11 | Idaho | $50,293 |
| 12 | Illinois | $41,087 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $40,656 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $40,576 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $39,869 |
| 16 | Oregon | $42,129 |
| 17 | Montana | $42,635 |
| 18 | Michigan | $39,856 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $40,912 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $38,062 |
| 21 | Washington | $41,813 |
| 22 | Nevada | $39,510 |
| 23 | Missouri | $38,745 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $39,573 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $40,381 |
| 26 | Vermont | $40,365 |
| 27 | Arizona | $38,835 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $38,715 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $38,816 |
| 30 | Utah | $37,282 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $37,247 |
| 32 | Maryland | $40,736 |
| 33 | Colorado | $40,028 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $36,746 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $34,662 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $35,908 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $35,399 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $35,096 |
| 39 | Virginia | $39,203 |
| 40 | Ohio | $33,249 |
| 41 | California | $38,060 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $31,859 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $33,333 |
| 44 | Georgia | $30,914 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $34,799 |
| 46 | Delaware | $33,937 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $33,814 |
| 48 | Texas | $31,151 |
| 49 | Alabama | $30,020 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $32,096 |
| 51 | Florida | $30,181 |
Furnace operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025