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Best states for a grinder operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like grinder operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for grinder operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Alaska is the best state for grinder operators, while Alaska and Oregon are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Alaska has a median salary of $47,679 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for grinder operators.
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 grinder operators.If you are currently seeking employment as a grinder operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for grinder operators in 2026
1. Alaska
Total grinder operator jobs: 96 Average annual salary: $47,679 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
2. Minnesota
Total grinder operator jobs: 695 Average annual salary: $41,495 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
3. Wisconsin
Total grinder operator jobs: 804 Average annual salary: $39,161 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 2.08
4. Nebraska
Total grinder operator jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $40,611 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
5. Oregon
Total grinder operator jobs: 206 Average annual salary: $44,485 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
6. North Dakota
Total grinder operator jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $43,031 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
7. Rhode Island
Total grinder operator jobs: 151 Average annual salary: $38,847 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
8. Nevada
Total grinder operator jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $40,376 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
9. Massachusetts
Total grinder operator jobs: 1,213 Average annual salary: $39,340 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
10. Pennsylvania
Total grinder operator jobs: 1,041 Average annual salary: $38,279 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
Grinder operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a grinder operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a grinder operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $47,679 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 96 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $41,495 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 695 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $39,161 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 804 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $40,611 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 157 |
| 5 | Oregon | $44,485 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 206 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $43,031 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 40 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $38,847 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 151 |
| 8 | Nevada | $40,376 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 104 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $39,340 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,213 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $38,279 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,041 |
| 11 | Idaho | $40,218 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 65 |
| 12 | Iowa | $37,722 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 340 |
| 13 | Washington | $41,525 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 285 |
| 14 | Utah | $38,256 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 250 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $41,700 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 110 |
| 16 | Maine | $38,749 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 93 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $40,190 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 10 |
| 18 | Kansas | $37,569 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 191 |
| 19 | California | $41,492 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,560 |
| 20 | Ohio | $35,744 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,134 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $37,774 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 53 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $40,109 | $29,000 | 693,972 | 131 |
| 23 | Arizona | $37,937 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 259 |
| 24 | Missouri | $36,569 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 409 |
| 25 | Colorado | $39,485 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 188 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $37,213 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 873 |
| 27 | New York | $39,217 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 576 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $35,484 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 336 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $34,090 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 340 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $37,237 | $27,000 | 3,588,184 | 208 |
| 31 | Michigan | $35,099 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 502 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $34,289 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 221 |
| 33 | Illinois | $35,662 | $27,000 | 12,802,023 | 972 |
| 34 | Texas | $35,601 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,036 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $36,157 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 99 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $36,740 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 25 |
| 37 | Delaware | $36,500 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 44 |
| 38 | Maryland | $37,531 | $28,000 | 6,052,177 | 211 |
| 39 | Montana | $36,519 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 18 |
| 40 | Florida | $35,533 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 730 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $31,991 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 643 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $33,334 | $25,000 | 10,273,419 | 743 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $33,312 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 139 |
| 44 | Georgia | $33,001 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 929 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $32,550 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 165 |
| 46 | Indiana | $31,408 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 770 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $33,512 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 46 |
| 48 | Vermont | $33,700 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 41 |
| 49 | Alabama | $32,441 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 226 |
| 50 | Virginia | $34,557 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 359 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $32,373 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 99 |
Highest paying states for grinder operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Grinder Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $47,679 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $41,495 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $39,161 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $40,611 |
| 5 | Oregon | $44,485 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $43,031 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $38,847 |
| 8 | Nevada | $40,376 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $39,340 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $38,279 |
| 11 | Idaho | $40,218 |
| 12 | Iowa | $37,722 |
| 13 | Washington | $41,525 |
| 14 | Utah | $38,256 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $41,700 |
| 16 | Maine | $38,749 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $40,190 |
| 18 | Kansas | $37,569 |
| 19 | California | $41,492 |
| 20 | Ohio | $35,744 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $37,774 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $40,109 |
| 23 | Arizona | $37,937 |
| 24 | Missouri | $36,569 |
| 25 | Colorado | $39,485 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $37,213 |
| 27 | New York | $39,217 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $35,484 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $34,090 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $37,237 |
| 31 | Michigan | $35,099 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $34,289 |
| 33 | Illinois | $35,662 |
| 34 | Texas | $35,601 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $36,157 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $36,740 |
| 37 | Delaware | $36,500 |
| 38 | Maryland | $37,531 |
| 39 | Montana | $36,519 |
| 40 | Florida | $35,533 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $31,991 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $33,334 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $33,312 |
| 44 | Georgia | $33,001 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $32,550 |
| 46 | Indiana | $31,408 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $33,512 |
| 48 | Vermont | $33,700 |
| 49 | Alabama | $32,441 |
| 50 | Virginia | $34,557 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $32,373 |
Grinder operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025