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Best states for a handle machine operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like handle machine operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for handle machine operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. We wanted to look at the best states for handle machine operators -- where there are plenty of handle machine operator jobs to go around and handle machine operators get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
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 handle machine operators.We found that Pennsylvania is the best state for handle machine operator jobs, whereas Wyoming is the worst.
10 best states for handle machine operators in 2025
1. Pennsylvania
Total handle machine operator jobs: 1,482 Average annual salary: $32,101 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
2. Kentucky
Total handle machine operator jobs: 450 Average annual salary: $31,133 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
3. Indiana
Total handle machine operator jobs: 1,028 Average annual salary: $28,612 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
4. Rhode Island
Total handle machine operator jobs: 167 Average annual salary: $29,741 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
5. Maine
Total handle machine operator jobs: 138 Average annual salary: $30,408 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
6. Minnesota
Total handle machine operator jobs: 931 Average annual salary: $28,957 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
7. New Hampshire
Total handle machine operator jobs: 269 Average annual salary: $28,036 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
8. Connecticut
Total handle machine operator jobs: 274 Average annual salary: $31,838 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
9. Illinois
Total handle machine operator jobs: 1,342 Average annual salary: $30,170 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
10. Ohio
Total handle machine operator jobs: 1,608 Average annual salary: $26,544 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
Handle machine operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a handle machine operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a handle machine operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $32,101 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,482 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $31,133 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 450 |
| 3 | Indiana | $28,612 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,028 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $29,741 | $24,000 | 1,059,639 | 167 |
| 5 | Maine | $30,408 | $25,000 | 1,335,907 | 138 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $28,957 | $23,000 | 5,576,606 | 931 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $28,036 | $23,000 | 1,342,795 | 269 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $31,838 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 274 |
| 9 | Illinois | $30,170 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,342 |
| 10 | Ohio | $26,544 | $20,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,608 |
| 11 | California | $31,615 | $25,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,404 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $29,864 | $23,000 | 755,393 | 55 |
| 13 | Nevada | $28,683 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 144 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $28,047 | $22,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,297 |
| 15 | Arizona | $27,880 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 434 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $28,373 | $22,000 | 9,005,644 | 984 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $30,745 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 89 |
| 18 | Iowa | $25,414 | $20,000 | 3,145,711 | 536 |
| 19 | Washington | $28,451 | $22,000 | 7,405,743 | 492 |
| 20 | Vermont | $26,570 | $21,000 | 623,657 | 102 |
| 21 | Maryland | $27,301 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,030 |
| 22 | Michigan | $25,553 | $20,000 | 9,962,311 | 845 |
| 23 | Delaware | $28,029 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 70 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $24,756 | $19,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,244 |
| 25 | Kansas | $26,051 | $20,000 | 2,913,123 | 284 |
| 26 | Oregon | $27,519 | $21,000 | 4,142,776 | 370 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $25,372 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 450 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $25,413 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 86 |
| 29 | Idaho | $26,119 | $20,000 | 1,716,943 | 120 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $24,992 | $19,000 | 1,920,076 | 252 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $25,650 | $20,000 | 1,815,857 | 78 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $24,981 | $19,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,085 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $23,736 | $18,000 | 6,715,984 | 834 |
| 34 | Utah | $25,038 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 370 |
| 35 | Colorado | $26,926 | $21,000 | 5,607,154 | 364 |
| 36 | Missouri | $25,112 | $19,000 | 6,113,532 | 609 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $27,239 | $21,000 | 693,972 | 116 |
| 38 | Texas | $24,989 | $19,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,472 |
| 39 | New York | $26,283 | $21,000 | 19,849,399 | 736 |
| 40 | Alaska | $23,200 | $19,000 | 739,795 | 118 |
| 41 | Georgia | $23,398 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,253 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $23,168 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 247 |
| 43 | Alabama | $23,449 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 385 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $23,398 | $18,000 | 2,984,100 | 198 |
| 45 | Florida | $24,106 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,187 |
| 46 | Virginia | $24,705 | $19,000 | 8,470,020 | 577 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $23,138 | $18,000 | 2,088,070 | 52 |
| 48 | Montana | $23,442 | $18,000 | 1,050,493 | 51 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $22,865 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 158 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $22,077 | $17,000 | 4,684,333 | 145 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $16,162 | $12,000 | 579,315 | 13 |
Highest paying states for handle machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Handle Machine Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $32,101 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $31,133 |
| 3 | Indiana | $28,612 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $29,741 |
| 5 | Maine | $30,408 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $28,957 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $28,036 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $31,838 |
| 9 | Illinois | $30,170 |
| 10 | Ohio | $26,544 |
| 11 | California | $31,615 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $29,864 |
| 13 | Nevada | $28,683 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $28,047 |
| 15 | Arizona | $27,880 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $28,373 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $30,745 |
| 18 | Iowa | $25,414 |
| 19 | Washington | $28,451 |
| 20 | Vermont | $26,570 |
| 21 | Maryland | $27,301 |
| 22 | Michigan | $25,553 |
| 23 | Delaware | $28,029 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $24,756 |
| 25 | Kansas | $26,051 |
| 26 | Oregon | $27,519 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $25,372 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $25,413 |
| 29 | Idaho | $26,119 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $24,992 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $25,650 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $24,981 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $23,736 |
| 34 | Utah | $25,038 |
| 35 | Colorado | $26,926 |
| 36 | Missouri | $25,112 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $27,239 |
| 38 | Texas | $24,989 |
| 39 | New York | $26,283 |
| 40 | Alaska | $23,200 |
| 41 | Georgia | $23,398 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $23,168 |
| 43 | Alabama | $23,449 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $23,398 |
| 45 | Florida | $24,106 |
| 46 | Virginia | $24,705 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $23,138 |
| 48 | Montana | $23,442 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $22,865 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $22,077 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $16,162 |
Handle machine operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025