Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Motor transport operator salary
Average motor transport operator salary
$51,498
Understanding the Salary of Motor Transport Operators
The average salary for a Motor Transport Operator in the United States is approximately $51,498 per year or around $25 per hour. This figure varies based on factors such as geographical location, experience level, and the specific industry in which one works. For instance, operators in states like California and Texas often see higher salaries due to the demand for transportation services.
Salary by State
In states with a robust logistics infrastructure, salaries can exceed the national average. For example, Motor Transport Operators in Alaska and New York report some of the highest salaries in the field. Understanding regional salary differences can help job seekers target opportunities that align with their financial goals.
Career Opportunities
Not only do Motor Transport Operators enjoy competitive wages, but they also have numerous career paths available, including roles in freight management and logistics coordination. With the right experience and training, operators can enhance their earning potential and advance within the industry.
Let Zippi find your next motor transport operator job
Let Zippi find your next motor transport operator job
Where can a Motor Transport Operator earn more?
Motor transport operator salary estimates from across the web
Average motor transport operator salary by state
The average motor transport operator salary in Alaska, California, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average motor transport operator salary states are Oregon, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for motor transport operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $75,495 | $36.30 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $64,485 | $31.00 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $70,987 | $34.13 |
| 4 | California | $70,758 | $34.02 |
| 5 | Maine | $65,448 | $31.47 |
| 6 | Ohio | $55,904 | $26.88 |
| 7 | Kansas | $58,605 | $28.18 |
| 8 | Iowa | $62,688 | $30.14 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $56,996 | $27.40 |
| 10 | Delaware | $63,907 | $30.72 |
| 11 | Illinois | $53,067 | $25.51 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $65,226 | $31.36 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $52,808 | $25.39 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $60,974 | $29.31 |
| 15 | Michigan | $51,271 | $24.65 |
| 16 | Vermont | $57,386 | $27.59 |
| 17 | New York | $55,464 | $26.67 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $48,405 | $23.27 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $49,868 | $23.98 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $48,782 | $23.45 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $53,503 | $25.72 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $51,258 | $24.64 |
| 23 | Nevada | $54,409 | $26.16 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $45,839 | $22.04 |
| 25 | Missouri | $47,078 | $22.63 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $47,836 | $23.00 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $45,447 | $21.85 |
| 28 | Idaho | $46,821 | $22.51 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| 30 | Maryland | $51,927 | $24.96 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $48,589 | $23.36 |
| 33 | Utah | $48,343 | $23.24 |
| 34 | Texas | $45,009 | $21.64 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $45,643 | $21.94 |
| 36 | Alabama | $41,242 | $19.83 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $40,321 | $19.39 |
| 38 | Indiana | $40,826 | $19.63 |
| 39 | Georgia | $44,859 | $21.57 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $45,267 | $21.76 |
| 41 | Virginia | $46,198 | $22.21 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $38,843 | $18.67 |
| 43 | Washington | $40,758 | $19.60 |
| 44 | Oregon | $39,688 | $19.08 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $40,199 | $19.33 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $37,348 | $17.96 |
| 47 | Arizona | $42,270 | $20.32 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $39,093 | $18.79 |
| 49 | Montana | $39,898 | $19.18 |
| 50 | Colorado | $36,333 | $17.47 |
| 51 | Florida | $36,811 | $17.70 |
Highest paying cities for motor transport operators
The highest-paying cities for motor transport operators are Pacifica, CA, Washington, DC, and Ridgefield, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacifica, CA | $73,084 | $35.14 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $71,005 | $34.14 |
| 3 | Ridgefield, CT | $65,208 | $31.35 |
| 4 | Lenexa, KS | $58,905 | $28.32 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,415 | $27.60 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $55,359 | $26.61 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $54,688 | $26.29 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $53,607 | $25.77 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $52,957 | $25.46 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $50,659 | $24.36 |
| 11 | Saint Cloud, MN | $49,474 | $23.79 |
| 12 | Manassas, VA | $47,667 | $22.92 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $46,886 | $22.54 |
| 14 | Clifton, NJ | $45,288 | $21.77 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $44,666 | $21.47 |
| 16 | Peoria, AZ | $42,131 | $20.26 |
| 17 | Fishers, IN | $40,742 | $19.59 |
| 18 | Salem, OR | $39,634 | $19.05 |
| 19 | Greenville, SC | $39,121 | $18.81 |
| 20 | Miramar, FL | $37,281 | $17.92 |
Motor transport operator salary details
A motor transport operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $108,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a motor transport operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $51,498 | $4,292 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying motor transport operator jobs
The highest paying types of motor transport operators are starting gate driver, assembly line driver, and street sweeper.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Operator | $51,505 | $4,292 | $24.76 | 27,441 |
| Motor Vehicle Operator | $51,498 | $4,292 | $24.76 | 27,666 |
Top companies hiring motor transport operators now:
Which companies pay motor transport operators the most?
Motor transport operator salaries at OSF HealthCare and NexTier Oilfield Solutions are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average motor transport operator salary at companies like Merck and International Rescue Committee are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OSF HealthCare | $165,010 | $79.33 |
| 2 | NexTier Oilfield Solutions | $125,659 | $60.41 |
| 3 | Merck | $115,322 | $55.44 |
| 4 | International Rescue Committee | $105,521 | $50.73 |
| 5 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $105,109 | $50.53 |
| 6 | CoxHealth | $101,582 | $48.84 |
| 7 | Dahl Consulting | $98,257 | $47.24 |
| 8 | Iteris | $95,060 | $45.70 |
| 9 | Deloitte | $93,257 | $44.84 |
| 10 | SAMSUNG SDS | $91,312 | $43.90 |
| 11 | Halifax Health | $91,311 | $43.90 |
| 12 | GPAC | $90,734 | $43.62 |
| 13 | Akron Children's Hospital | $90,337 | $43.43 |
| 14 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $90,076 | $43.31 |
| 15 | Parsons | $86,746 | $41.70 |
| 16 | Baptist Health | $83,697 | $40.24 |
| 17 | SAIC | $82,079 | $39.46 |
| 18 | E Center | $81,658 | $39.26 |
| 19 | The University of Chicago | $80,945 | $38.92 |
| 20 | Stanley Consultants | $80,815 | $38.85 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Motor transport operator salary trends
The average motor transport operator salary has risen by $13,841 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average motor transport operator earned $37,657 annually, but today, they earn $51,498 a year. That works out to a 37% change in pay for motor transport operators over the last decade.
Compare motor transport operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average motor transport operator salary over time
Compare motor transport operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Motor transport operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,500 | $24.76 | +11.5% |
| 2024 | $45,600 | $21.92 | +7.7% |
| 2023 | $42,100 | $20.22 | +12.3% |
| 2022 | $36,900 | $17.74 | -1.9% |
| 2021 | $37,600 | $18.08 | -7.7% |
Recently added motor transport operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Corporation International | Transport/Preparation Specialist | Whittier, CA | 06/30/2025 | $44,871 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Medical Transport Specialist/Driver | Nashville, TN | 06/28/2025 | $37,044 |
| Pet Food Experts | Transportation Specialist | Bartlett, IL | 06/28/2025 | $58,436 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Supervisory Mobility Transportation Specialist | Las Vegas, NV | 06/28/2025 | $75,524 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Medical Transport Specialist/Driver | Fridley, MN | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Medical Transport Specialist/Driver | Tempe, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $38,296 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Medical Transport Specialist/Driver | Indianapolis, IN | 06/27/2025 | $37,044 |
| Quest Diagnostics | Medical Transport Specialist/Driver Advanced | Calumet City, IL | 06/27/2025 | $41,218 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Medical Transport Specialist/Driver Specialty | Tucker, GA | 06/27/2025 | $42,825 |
| Quest Diagnostics | Medical Transport Specialist/Driver | Lenexa, KS | 06/27/2025 | $37,044 |
Motor transport operator salary FAQs
Search for motor transport operator jobs