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Best states for a machine operator/forklift operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and transportation careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to machine operator/forklift operator jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for machine operator/forklift operators.As machine operator/forklift operators are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for machine operator/forklift operators. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a machine operator/forklift operator, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for machine operator/forklift operator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Alaska is the best state for machine operator/forklift operator jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.
10 best states for machine operator/forklift operators in 2025
1. Alaska
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 108 Average annual salary: $41,117 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.322. Massachusetts
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 1,381 Average annual salary: $34,916 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.533. Iowa
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 502 Average annual salary: $32,601 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.414. Maine
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $34,257 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.015. North Dakota
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $38,277 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.716. Minnesota
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 960 Average annual salary: $33,005 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.477. Wisconsin
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 1,025 Average annual salary: $31,812 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.898. Hawaii
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 100 Average annual salary: $37,097 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.219. Nevada
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 154 Average annual salary: $33,642 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 0.7510. Nebraska
Total machine operator/forklift operator jobs: 256 Average annual salary: $32,158 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
Machine operator/forklift operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a machine operator/forklift operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a machine operator/forklift operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,117 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 108 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $34,916 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,381 |
| 3 | Iowa | $32,601 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 502 |
| 4 | Maine | $34,257 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 132 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $38,277 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 65 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $33,005 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 960 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $31,812 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,025 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $37,097 | $31,000 | 1,427,538 | 100 |
| 9 | Nevada | $33,642 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 154 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $32,158 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 256 |
| 11 | Oregon | $34,427 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 325 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $32,486 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 156 |
| 13 | Washington | $36,111 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 456 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $31,838 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 277 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $34,176 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 15 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $31,514 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,362 |
| 17 | Ohio | $31,111 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,452 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $32,602 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 69 |
| 19 | Montana | $33,963 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 56 |
| 20 | Illinois | $32,042 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,507 |
| 21 | Kansas | $31,379 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 340 |
| 22 | Utah | $31,601 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 317 |
| 23 | Indiana | $29,827 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,132 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $32,117 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,061 |
| 25 | Michigan | $30,627 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 874 |
| 26 | California | $33,285 | $26,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,288 |
| 27 | New York | $32,761 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 768 |
| 28 | Maryland | $33,419 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 362 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $28,504 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 506 |
| 30 | Missouri | $29,734 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 637 |
| 31 | Vermont | $30,205 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 66 |
| 32 | Arizona | $30,393 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 395 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $30,985 | $24,000 | 2,088,070 | 49 |
| 34 | Delaware | $30,788 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 74 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $30,197 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 262 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $26,769 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 772 |
| 37 | Colorado | $30,821 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 355 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $30,480 | $24,000 | 693,972 | 126 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $28,168 | $22,000 | 1,815,857 | 110 |
| 40 | Idaho | $28,278 | $22,000 | 1,716,943 | 122 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $26,960 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 235 |
| 42 | Georgia | $26,463 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,407 |
| 43 | Florida | $27,986 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,158 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $27,623 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 142 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $26,534 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 409 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $25,500 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,158 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $27,727 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 161 |
| 48 | Texas | $27,580 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,373 |
| 49 | Virginia | $28,059 | $22,000 | 8,470,020 | 506 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $24,758 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 237 |
| 51 | Alabama | $25,253 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 319 |
Highest paying states for machine operator/forklift operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Machine Operator/Forklift Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,117 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $34,916 |
| 3 | Iowa | $32,601 |
| 4 | Maine | $34,257 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $38,277 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $33,005 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $31,812 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $37,097 |
| 9 | Nevada | $33,642 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $32,158 |
| 11 | Oregon | $34,427 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $32,486 |
| 13 | Washington | $36,111 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $31,838 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $34,176 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $31,514 |
| 17 | Ohio | $31,111 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $32,602 |
| 19 | Montana | $33,963 |
| 20 | Illinois | $32,042 |
| 21 | Kansas | $31,379 |
| 22 | Utah | $31,601 |
| 23 | Indiana | $29,827 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $32,117 |
| 25 | Michigan | $30,627 |
| 26 | California | $33,285 |
| 27 | New York | $32,761 |
| 28 | Maryland | $33,419 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $28,504 |
| 30 | Missouri | $29,734 |
| 31 | Vermont | $30,205 |
| 32 | Arizona | $30,393 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $30,985 |
| 34 | Delaware | $30,788 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $30,197 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $26,769 |
| 37 | Colorado | $30,821 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $30,480 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $28,168 |
| 40 | Idaho | $28,278 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $26,960 |
| 42 | Georgia | $26,463 |
| 43 | Florida | $27,986 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $27,623 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $26,534 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $25,500 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $27,727 |
| 48 | Texas | $27,580 |
| 49 | Virginia | $28,059 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $24,758 |
| 51 | Alabama | $25,253 |
Machine operator/forklift operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025