Best states for a motor vehicle operator

Q: What is the best state for motor vehicle operators?

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

Q: What is the highest paying state for motor vehicle operators?

The highest paying state for motor vehicle operators is Iowa based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for motor vehicle operators?

The worst state for motor vehicle operators is Iowa, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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Do you want to become a motor vehicle operator at United States Marine Corps, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for motor vehicle operators that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for motor vehicle operators. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for motor vehicle operators, and people in Anchorage earn the most in the field.

The median salary for motor vehicle operators in Alaska is $75,495. Compare that to the median salary in Iowa of $31,342, which ranked worst for motor vehicle operators, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Alaska is the best state for motor vehicle operator jobs, whereas Iowa is the worst.

10 best states for motor vehicle operators in 2025

1. Alaska
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 98
Average annual salary: $75,495
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000
Location Quotient:
8.02
Motor vehicle operator jobs in Alaska
2. Maine
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 11
Average annual salary: $65,448
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000
Location Quotient:
0.57
Motor vehicle operator jobs in Maine
3. District of Columbia
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 111
Average annual salary: $70,987
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000
Location Quotient:
4.52
Motor vehicle operator jobs in District of Columbia
4. Rhode Island
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 141
Average annual salary: $61,441
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000
Location Quotient:
7.93
Motor vehicle operator jobs in Rhode Island
5. Massachusetts
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 1,096
Average annual salary: $63,146
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000
Location Quotient:
8.16
Motor vehicle operator jobs in Massachusetts
6. Delaware
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 6
Average annual salary: $63,907
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000
Location Quotient:
0.33
Motor vehicle operator jobs in Delaware
7. Kansas
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 14
Average annual salary: $58,605
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
0.32
Motor vehicle operator jobs in Kansas
8. Connecticut
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 13
Average annual salary: $65,226
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000
Location Quotient:
0.27
Motor vehicle operator jobs in Connecticut
9. Vermont
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 5
Average annual salary: $57,386
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000
Location Quotient:
0.45
Motor vehicle operator jobs in Vermont
10. North Dakota
Total motor vehicle operator jobs: 7
Average annual salary: $53,503
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
0.51
Motor vehicle operator jobs in North Dakota

Motor vehicle operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a motor vehicle operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a motor vehicle operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$75,495	$38,000	739,795	98
2	Maine	$65,448	$32,000	1,335,907	11
3	District of Columbia	$70,987	$35,000	693,972	111
4	Rhode Island	$61,441	$29,000	1,059,639	141
5	Massachusetts	$63,146	$30,000	6,859,819	1,096
6	Delaware	$63,907	$30,000	961,939	6
7	Kansas	$58,605	$31,000	2,913,123	14
8	Connecticut	$65,226	$31,000	3,588,184	13
9	Vermont	$57,386	$28,000	623,657	5
10	North Dakota	$53,503	$31,000	755,393	7
11	California	$69,140	$33,000	39,536,653	89
12	New Hampshire	$60,974	$29,000	1,342,795	6
13	Maryland	$51,927	$25,000	6,052,177	850
14	West Virginia	$48,782	$24,000	1,815,857	19
15	Louisiana	$49,330	$24,000	4,684,333	27
16	Pennsylvania	$60,051	$28,000	12,805,537	22
17	Ohio	$55,904	$28,000	11,658,609	25
18	Arizona	$55,858	$27,000	7,016,270	21
19	Missouri	$56,021	$29,000	6,113,532	16
20	Mississippi	$48,471	$24,000	2,984,100	11
21	Nebraska	$45,643	$24,000	1,920,076	17
22	Nevada	$54,409	$25,000	2,998,039	4
23	North Carolina	$51,258	$25,000	10,273,419	30
24	Illinois	$53,067	$27,000	12,802,023	33
25	Hawaii	$47,836	$27,000	1,427,538	84
26	South Carolina	$45,712	$23,000	5,024,369	29
27	Wisconsin	$51,482	$27,000	5,795,483	15
28	South Dakota	$43,923	$24,000	869,666	7
29	New Mexico	$45,267	$22,000	2,088,070	11
30	New York	$51,348	$24,000	19,849,399	46
31	New Jersey	$45,447	$21,000	9,005,644	771
32	Washington	$48,551	$24,000	7,405,743	29
33	Minnesota	$49,868	$27,000	5,576,606	19
34	Virginia	$46,198	$22,000	8,470,020	58
35	Texas	$45,038	$22,000	28,304,596	89
36	Kentucky	$42,280	$21,000	4,454,189	17
37	Utah	$42,390	$21,000	3,101,833	16
38	Alabama	$41,242	$21,000	4,874,747	20
39	Georgia	$41,181	$21,000	10,429,379	52
40	Michigan	$41,469	$21,000	9,962,311	32
41	Idaho	$41,109	$20,000	1,716,943	10
42	Wyoming	$40,199	$21,000	579,315	3
43	Oklahoma	$40,321	$21,000	3,930,864	13
44	Indiana	$40,826	$21,000	6,666,818	23
45	Tennessee	$39,694	$20,000	6,715,984	26
46	Montana	$36,654	$19,000	1,050,493	8
47	Arkansas	$38,843	$20,000	3,004,279	12
48	Colorado	$36,333	$19,000	5,607,154	35
49	Oregon	$39,688	$19,000	4,142,776	11
50	Florida	$32,550	$16,000	20,984,400	61
51	Iowa	$31,342	$16,000	3,145,711	9

Highest paying states for motor vehicle operators

Rank	State	Avg. Motor Vehicle Operator Salary
1	Alaska	$75,495
2	Maine	$65,448
3	District of Columbia	$70,987
4	Rhode Island	$61,441
5	Massachusetts	$63,146
6	Delaware	$63,907
7	Kansas	$58,605
8	Connecticut	$65,226
9	Vermont	$57,386
10	North Dakota	$53,503
11	California	$69,140
12	New Hampshire	$60,974
13	Maryland	$51,927
14	West Virginia	$48,782
15	Louisiana	$49,330
16	Pennsylvania	$60,051
17	Ohio	$55,904
18	Arizona	$55,858
19	Missouri	$56,021
20	Mississippi	$48,471
21	Nebraska	$45,643
22	Nevada	$54,409
23	North Carolina	$51,258
24	Illinois	$53,067
25	Hawaii	$47,836
26	South Carolina	$45,712
27	Wisconsin	$51,482
28	South Dakota	$43,923
29	New Mexico	$45,267
30	New York	$51,348
31	New Jersey	$45,447
32	Washington	$48,551
33	Minnesota	$49,868
34	Virginia	$46,198
35	Texas	$45,038
36	Kentucky	$42,280
37	Utah	$42,390
38	Alabama	$41,242
39	Georgia	$41,181
40	Michigan	$41,469
41	Idaho	$41,109
42	Wyoming	$40,199
43	Oklahoma	$40,321
44	Indiana	$40,826
45	Tennessee	$39,694
46	Montana	$36,654
47	Arkansas	$38,843
48	Colorado	$36,333
49	Oregon	$39,688
50	Florida	$32,550
51	Iowa	$31,342

Motor vehicle operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for motor vehicle operators?

What is the highest paying state for motor vehicle operators?

What is the worst state for motor vehicle operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.

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Best states for Motor Vehicle Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total motor vehicle operator jobs:	98
Average annual salary:	$75,495
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$38,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$147,000
Location Quotient:	8.02

Best states for a motor vehicle operator

10 best states for motor vehicle operators in 2025

1. Alaska

2. Maine

3. District of Columbia

4. Rhode Island

5. Massachusetts

6. Delaware

7. Kansas

8. Connecticut

9. Vermont

10. North Dakota