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Best states for a head operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like head operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for head operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of head operators in America is $243,000.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for head operators. Rhode Island is the best state for head operators, where the median salary is $150,655.If you are currently seeking employment as a head operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for head operators in 2025
1. Rhode Island
Total head operator jobs: 293 Average annual salary: $150,655 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location Quotient: 2.162. Massachusetts
Total head operator jobs: 2,645 Average annual salary: $139,276 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location Quotient: 2.583. Connecticut
Total head operator jobs: 511 Average annual salary: $135,242 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000 Location Quotient: 1.384. California
Total head operator jobs: 4,744 Average annual salary: $139,338 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000 Location Quotient: 1.455. New Jersey
Total head operator jobs: 1,976 Average annual salary: $126,035 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location Quotient: 2.236. Alaska
Total head operator jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $124,827 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 1.87. New York
Total head operator jobs: 2,078 Average annual salary: $128,670 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location Quotient: 1.458. District of Columbia
Total head operator jobs: 510 Average annual salary: $126,672 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location Quotient: 2.729. Delaware
Total head operator jobs: 170 Average annual salary: $123,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location Quotient: 1.2110. Washington
Total head operator jobs: 971 Average annual salary: $121,365 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
Head operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a head operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a head operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $150,655 | $93,000 | 1,059,639 | 293 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $139,276 | $84,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,645 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $135,242 | $80,000 | 3,588,184 | 511 |
| 4 | California | $139,338 | $86,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,744 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $126,035 | $73,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,976 |
| 6 | Alaska | $124,827 | $78,000 | 739,795 | 168 |
| 7 | New York | $128,670 | $75,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,078 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $126,672 | $72,000 | 693,972 | 510 |
| 9 | Delaware | $123,188 | $70,000 | 961,939 | 170 |
| 10 | Washington | $121,365 | $71,000 | 7,405,743 | 971 |
| 11 | Nevada | $119,473 | $70,000 | 2,998,039 | 174 |
| 12 | Oregon | $113,710 | $66,000 | 4,142,776 | 524 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $108,687 | $60,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,057 |
| 14 | Maryland | $103,725 | $56,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,403 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $123,032 | $70,000 | 2,088,070 | 110 |
| 16 | Texas | $102,814 | $55,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,907 |
| 17 | Maine | $105,116 | $58,000 | 1,335,907 | 109 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $103,810 | $57,000 | 1,342,795 | 155 |
| 19 | Colorado | $104,940 | $56,000 | 5,607,154 | 511 |
| 20 | Vermont | $97,427 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 76 |
| 21 | Arizona | $94,246 | $52,000 | 7,016,270 | 580 |
| 22 | Virginia | $92,003 | $48,000 | 8,470,020 | 892 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $99,046 | $53,000 | 869,666 | 53 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $98,205 | $52,000 | 5,795,483 | 329 |
| 25 | Florida | $90,702 | $47,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,223 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $96,197 | $50,000 | 4,684,333 | 182 |
| 27 | Illinois | $82,817 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,451 |
| 28 | Idaho | $86,582 | $46,000 | 1,716,943 | 114 |
| 29 | Montana | $82,313 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 93 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $78,515 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 895 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $83,690 | $44,000 | 5,576,606 | 508 |
| 32 | Kansas | $83,440 | $42,000 | 2,913,123 | 190 |
| 33 | Alabama | $85,430 | $43,000 | 4,874,747 | 185 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $69,604 | $47,000 | 1,427,538 | 155 |
| 35 | Michigan | $78,903 | $40,000 | 9,962,311 | 459 |
| 36 | Ohio | $75,430 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 709 |
| 37 | Indiana | $76,995 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 408 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $75,536 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 44 |
| 39 | Utah | $72,446 | $37,000 | 3,101,833 | 333 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $75,047 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 64 |
| 41 | Georgia | $70,740 | $35,000 | 10,429,379 | 855 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $72,974 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 119 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $72,214 | $36,000 | 5,024,369 | 253 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $72,938 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 80 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $68,510 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 406 |
| 46 | Missouri | $70,409 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 391 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $54,973 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 220 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $70,933 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 149 |
| 49 | Iowa | $71,124 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 172 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $70,128 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 72 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $67,411 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 216 |
Highest paying states for head operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Head Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $150,655 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $139,276 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $135,242 |
| 4 | California | $139,338 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $126,035 |
| 6 | Alaska | $124,827 |
| 7 | New York | $128,670 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $126,672 |
| 9 | Delaware | $123,188 |
| 10 | Washington | $121,365 |
| 11 | Nevada | $119,473 |
| 12 | Oregon | $113,710 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $108,687 |
| 14 | Maryland | $103,725 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $123,032 |
| 16 | Texas | $102,814 |
| 17 | Maine | $105,116 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $103,810 |
| 19 | Colorado | $104,940 |
| 20 | Vermont | $97,427 |
| 21 | Arizona | $94,246 |
| 22 | Virginia | $92,003 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $99,046 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $98,205 |
| 25 | Florida | $90,702 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $96,197 |
| 27 | Illinois | $82,817 |
| 28 | Idaho | $86,582 |
| 29 | Montana | $82,313 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $78,515 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $83,690 |
| 32 | Kansas | $83,440 |
| 33 | Alabama | $85,430 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $69,604 |
| 35 | Michigan | $78,903 |
| 36 | Ohio | $75,430 |
| 37 | Indiana | $76,995 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $75,536 |
| 39 | Utah | $72,446 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $75,047 |
| 41 | Georgia | $70,740 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $72,974 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $72,214 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $72,938 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $68,510 |
| 46 | Missouri | $70,409 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $54,973 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $70,933 |
| 49 | Iowa | $71,124 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $70,128 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $67,411 |
Head operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025