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Best states for a heavy machinery operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for heavy machinery operators in the United States. Heavy machinery operator positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for heavy machinery operators.Our research shows that Alaska is the best state in the country for heavy machinery operators.
The median salary for heavy machinery operators in Alaska is $56,283. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $23,320, which ranked worst for heavy machinery operators, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a heavy machinery operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for heavy machinery operators in 2025
1. Alaska
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 114 Average annual salary: $56,283 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 5.582. Massachusetts
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 1,225 Average annual salary: $46,233 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 5.453. New Jersey
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 877 Average annual salary: $42,221 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 4.524. North Dakota
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $35,831 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.55. New Hampshire
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $49,610 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.426. Montana
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 110 Average annual salary: $35,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 3.97. Connecticut
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $48,418 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.168. Ohio
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 135 Average annual salary: $38,402 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 0.549. Wyoming
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $34,197 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.2310. Wisconsin
Total heavy machinery operator jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $38,665 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 0.58
Heavy machinery operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a heavy machinery operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a heavy machinery operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $56,283 | $49,000 | 739,795 | 114 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $46,233 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,225 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $42,221 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 877 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $35,831 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 34 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $49,610 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 18 |
| 6 | Montana | $35,339 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 110 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $48,418 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 13 |
| 8 | Ohio | $38,402 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 135 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $34,197 | $26,000 | 579,315 | 18 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $38,665 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 78 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $42,173 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 75 |
| 12 | Indiana | $37,424 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 93 |
| 13 | Utah | $33,909 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 83 |
| 14 | New York | $42,954 | $31,000 | 19,849,399 | 94 |
| 15 | Washington | $39,351 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 86 |
| 16 | Maine | $34,001 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 37 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $32,741 | $24,000 | 1,059,639 | 140 |
| 18 | Iowa | $32,659 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 102 |
| 19 | Oregon | $36,577 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 63 |
| 20 | Illinois | $36,552 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 108 |
| 21 | Vermont | $36,579 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 6 |
| 22 | Nevada | $32,731 | $25,000 | 2,998,039 | 51 |
| 23 | Idaho | $31,642 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 60 |
| 24 | California | $37,513 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 361 |
| 25 | Missouri | $34,209 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 73 |
| 26 | Michigan | $32,846 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 102 |
| 27 | Maryland | $34,719 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 84 |
| 28 | Colorado | $31,121 | $24,000 | 5,607,154 | 154 |
| 29 | Delaware | $30,600 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 29 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $32,853 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 8 |
| 31 | Kansas | $29,008 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 62 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $29,675 | $22,000 | 693,972 | 119 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $29,395 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 45 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $29,265 | $24,000 | 1,427,538 | 93 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $27,873 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 151 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $29,408 | $21,000 | 12,805,537 | 186 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $28,991 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 37 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $28,772 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 56 |
| 39 | Virginia | $29,771 | $22,000 | 8,470,020 | 168 |
| 40 | Arizona | $28,757 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 93 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $26,778 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 194 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $26,177 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 78 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $27,481 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 43 |
| 44 | Florida | $26,976 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 296 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $24,956 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 58 |
| 46 | Texas | $25,271 | $19,000 | 28,304,596 | 415 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $27,161 | $20,000 | 1,815,857 | 13 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $25,548 | $19,000 | 6,715,984 | 91 |
| 49 | Alabama | $23,676 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 100 |
| 50 | Georgia | $24,466 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 212 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $23,320 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 43 |
Highest paying states for heavy machinery operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Heavy Machinery Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $56,283 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $46,233 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $42,221 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $35,831 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $49,610 |
| 6 | Montana | $35,339 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $48,418 |
| 8 | Ohio | $38,402 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $34,197 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $38,665 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $42,173 |
| 12 | Indiana | $37,424 |
| 13 | Utah | $33,909 |
| 14 | New York | $42,954 |
| 15 | Washington | $39,351 |
| 16 | Maine | $34,001 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $32,741 |
| 18 | Iowa | $32,659 |
| 19 | Oregon | $36,577 |
| 20 | Illinois | $36,552 |
| 21 | Vermont | $36,579 |
| 22 | Nevada | $32,731 |
| 23 | Idaho | $31,642 |
| 24 | California | $37,513 |
| 25 | Missouri | $34,209 |
| 26 | Michigan | $32,846 |
| 27 | Maryland | $34,719 |
| 28 | Colorado | $31,121 |
| 29 | Delaware | $30,600 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $32,853 |
| 31 | Kansas | $29,008 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $29,675 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $29,395 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $29,265 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $27,873 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $29,408 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $28,991 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $28,772 |
| 39 | Virginia | $29,771 |
| 40 | Arizona | $28,757 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $26,778 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $26,177 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $27,481 |
| 44 | Florida | $26,976 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $24,956 |
| 46 | Texas | $25,271 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $27,161 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $25,548 |
| 49 | Alabama | $23,676 |
| 50 | Georgia | $24,466 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $23,320 |
Heavy machinery operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025