Best states for a lift operator

Q: What is the best state for lift operators?

The best state to be a lift operator is Alaska based on lift operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for lift operators?

The highest paying state for lift operators is Arkansas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for lift operators?

The worst state for lift operators is Idaho, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Are you thinking of becoming a lift operator and really want to work at Walmart? Turns out, your chances to become a lift operator are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for lift operators. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for lift operators, and people in Anchorage earn the most in the field.

The median salary for lift operators in Alaska is $37,617. Compare that to the median salary in Idaho of $27,461, which ranked worst for lift operators, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Alaska is the best state for lift operator jobs, whereas Idaho is the worst.

10 best states for lift operators in 2025

1. Alaska
Total lift operator jobs: 107
Average annual salary: $37,617
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.63
Lift operator jobs in Alaska
2. Massachusetts
Total lift operator jobs: 1,437
Average annual salary: $36,377
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.99
Lift operator jobs in Massachusetts
3. Rhode Island
Total lift operator jobs: 174
Average annual salary: $33,956
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.82
Lift operator jobs in Rhode Island
4. North Dakota
Total lift operator jobs: 45
Average annual salary: $37,607
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
0.62
Lift operator jobs in North Dakota
5. Maine
Total lift operator jobs: 75
Average annual salary: $35,247
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Lift operator jobs in Maine
6. Pennsylvania
Total lift operator jobs: 1,126
Average annual salary: $33,124
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.23
Lift operator jobs in Pennsylvania
7. Iowa
Total lift operator jobs: 327
Average annual salary: $32,863
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Lift operator jobs in Iowa
8. New Jersey
Total lift operator jobs: 1,067
Average annual salary: $33,800
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.71
Lift operator jobs in New Jersey
9. Ohio
Total lift operator jobs: 1,053
Average annual salary: $32,066
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Lift operator jobs in Ohio
10. Wisconsin
Total lift operator jobs: 687
Average annual salary: $31,916
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.58
Lift operator jobs in Wisconsin

Lift operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a lift operator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a lift operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$37,617	$30,000	739,795	107
2	Massachusetts	$36,377	$28,000	6,859,819	1,437
3	Rhode Island	$33,956	$26,000	1,059,639	174
4	North Dakota	$37,607	$29,000	755,393	45
5	Maine	$35,247	$27,000	1,335,907	75
6	Pennsylvania	$33,124	$25,000	12,805,537	1,126
7	Iowa	$32,863	$26,000	3,145,711	327
8	New Jersey	$33,800	$26,000	9,005,644	1,067
9	Ohio	$32,066	$25,000	11,658,609	1,053
10	Wisconsin	$31,916	$25,000	5,795,483	687
11	New Hampshire	$32,947	$25,000	1,342,795	208
12	Minnesota	$32,882	$26,000	5,576,606	642
13	Nevada	$33,416	$26,000	2,998,039	118
14	Hawaii	$35,514	$28,000	1,427,538	106
15	Kansas	$32,479	$25,000	2,913,123	265
16	Wyoming	$33,951	$26,000	579,315	11
17	Nebraska	$32,548	$25,000	1,920,076	167
18	Maryland	$35,329	$27,000	6,052,177	389
19	South Dakota	$32,548	$25,000	869,666	63
20	Washington	$34,703	$27,000	7,405,743	366
21	Oregon	$33,325	$26,000	4,142,776	237
22	California	$34,943	$27,000	39,536,653	1,966
23	Kentucky	$30,991	$24,000	4,454,189	432
24	Montana	$32,995	$26,000	1,050,493	29
25	Indiana	$30,170	$23,000	6,666,818	850
26	Illinois	$31,672	$25,000	12,802,023	1,141
27	Michigan	$30,885	$24,000	9,962,311	535
28	Delaware	$32,523	$25,000	961,939	64
29	Utah	$31,238	$24,000	3,101,833	233
30	Florida	$31,821	$24,000	20,984,400	895
31	Missouri	$30,912	$24,000	6,113,532	439
32	New York	$32,998	$25,000	19,849,399	574
33	Vermont	$30,805	$24,000	623,657	74
34	Texas	$30,734	$24,000	28,304,596	1,119
35	Arizona	$30,438	$24,000	7,016,270	359
36	Mississippi	$29,068	$23,000	2,984,100	240
37	Tennessee	$28,867	$22,000	6,715,984	636
38	Georgia	$29,546	$23,000	10,429,379	1,242
39	Connecticut	$31,549	$24,000	3,588,184	182
40	New Mexico	$31,362	$24,000	2,088,070	33
41	District of Columbia	$32,314	$25,000	693,972	0
42	South Carolina	$29,080	$23,000	5,024,369	353
43	West Virginia	$29,692	$23,000	1,815,857	57
44	Colorado	$31,054	$24,000	5,607,154	243
45	North Carolina	$27,843	$22,000	10,273,419	941
46	Oklahoma	$28,958	$23,000	3,930,864	131
47	Louisiana	$29,703	$23,000	4,684,333	125
48	Virginia	$30,314	$23,000	8,470,020	388
49	Alabama	$27,470	$21,000	4,874,747	251
50	Arkansas	$26,408	$21,000	3,004,279	173
51	Idaho	$27,461	$21,000	1,716,943	85

Highest paying states for lift operators

Rank	State	Avg. Lift Operator Salary
1	Alaska	$37,617
2	Massachusetts	$36,377
3	Rhode Island	$33,956
4	North Dakota	$37,607
5	Maine	$35,247
6	Pennsylvania	$33,124
7	Iowa	$32,863
8	New Jersey	$33,800
9	Ohio	$32,066
10	Wisconsin	$31,916
11	New Hampshire	$32,947
12	Minnesota	$32,882
13	Nevada	$33,416
14	Hawaii	$35,514
15	Kansas	$32,479
16	Wyoming	$33,951
17	Nebraska	$32,548
18	Maryland	$35,329
19	South Dakota	$32,548
20	Washington	$34,703
21	Oregon	$33,325
22	California	$34,943
23	Kentucky	$30,991
24	Montana	$32,995
25	Indiana	$30,170
26	Illinois	$31,672
27	Michigan	$30,885
28	Delaware	$32,523
29	Utah	$31,238
30	Florida	$31,821
31	Missouri	$30,912
32	New York	$32,998
33	Vermont	$30,805
34	Texas	$30,734
35	Arizona	$30,438
36	Mississippi	$29,068
37	Tennessee	$28,867
38	Georgia	$29,546
39	Connecticut	$31,549
40	New Mexico	$31,362
41	District of Columbia	$32,314
42	South Carolina	$29,080
43	West Virginia	$29,692
44	Colorado	$31,054
45	North Carolina	$27,843
46	Oklahoma	$28,958
47	Louisiana	$29,703
48	Virginia	$30,314
49	Alabama	$27,470
50	Arkansas	$26,408
51	Idaho	$27,461

Best states for a lift operator

10 best states for lift operators in 2025

1. Alaska

2. Massachusetts

3. Rhode Island

4. North Dakota

5. Maine

6. Pennsylvania

7. Iowa

8. New Jersey

9. Ohio

10. Wisconsin

Lift operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a lift operator

Detailed list of the best states for a lift operator

Highest paying states for lift operators

Lift operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for lift operators?

What is the highest paying state for lift operators?

What is the worst state for lift operators?

Search for lift operator jobs

Total lift operator jobs:	107
Average annual salary:	$37,617
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$46,000
Location Quotient:	1.63