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Best states for an operations inspector
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like operations inspectors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for operations inspectors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. As operations inspectors are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for operations inspectors. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as an operations inspector, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
Washington is the best state for jobs for operations inspectors, and Illinois is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $40,557, while the median pay in Illinois is $23,636.We found that Washington is the best state for operations inspector jobs, whereas Illinois is the worst.
10 best states for operations inspectors in 2026
1. Washington
Total operations inspector jobs: 1,334 Average annual salary: $40,557 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
2. Ohio
Total operations inspector jobs: 2,093 Average annual salary: $33,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
3. Nebraska
Total operations inspector jobs: 416 Average annual salary: $34,798 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. Montana
Total operations inspector jobs: 216 Average annual salary: $33,382 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
5. Utah
Total operations inspector jobs: 692 Average annual salary: $31,022 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
6. Connecticut
Total operations inspector jobs: 233 Average annual salary: $39,268 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 0.51
7. New Hampshire
Total operations inspector jobs: 467 Average annual salary: $30,597 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.93
8. South Dakota
Total operations inspector jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $32,354 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
9. Iowa
Total operations inspector jobs: 688 Average annual salary: $30,567 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
10. Louisiana
Total operations inspector jobs: 481 Average annual salary: $32,338 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
Operations inspector jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an operations inspector
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an operations inspector
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,557 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,334 |
| 2 | Ohio | $33,782 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,093 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $34,798 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 416 |
| 4 | Montana | $33,382 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 216 |
| 5 | Utah | $31,022 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 692 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $39,268 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 233 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $30,597 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 467 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $32,354 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 189 |
| 9 | Iowa | $30,567 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 688 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $32,338 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 481 |
| 11 | Idaho | $30,882 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 303 |
| 12 | Alaska | $33,418 | $29,000 | 739,795 | 112 |
| 13 | Maine | $30,299 | $25,000 | 1,335,907 | 308 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $40,493 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 34 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $32,680 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 41 |
| 16 | Indiana | $28,937 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,567 |
| 17 | Nevada | $29,772 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 397 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $31,699 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 55 |
| 19 | Maryland | $34,298 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 326 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $30,180 | $24,000 | 2,088,070 | 259 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $29,583 | $24,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,504 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $29,449 | $24,000 | 579,315 | 104 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $29,901 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 397 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $28,673 | $22,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,199 |
| 25 | Arizona | $30,367 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 346 |
| 26 | Vermont | $30,515 | $25,000 | 623,657 | 56 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $27,856 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 868 |
| 28 | Colorado | $30,739 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 333 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $30,263 | $24,000 | 6,859,819 | 619 |
| 30 | Missouri | $28,905 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,016 |
| 31 | Kansas | $28,358 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 523 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $30,686 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 339 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $26,645 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,080 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $25,589 | $20,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,234 |
| 35 | Michigan | $26,509 | $21,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,384 |
| 36 | California | $29,482 | $23,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,718 |
| 37 | New York | $29,032 | $23,000 | 19,849,399 | 647 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $24,734 | $19,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,085 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $26,737 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 189 |
| 40 | Oregon | $28,605 | $23,000 | 4,142,776 | 196 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $22,858 | $18,000 | 2,984,100 | 515 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $25,793 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 435 |
| 43 | Florida | $24,495 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,047 |
| 44 | Virginia | $28,233 | $22,000 | 8,470,020 | 407 |
| 45 | Georgia | $22,813 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,163 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $24,810 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 726 |
| 47 | Delaware | $27,522 | $21,000 | 961,939 | 59 |
| 48 | Texas | $22,833 | $18,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,711 |
| 49 | Alabama | $23,059 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 666 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $26,113 | $22,000 | 1,427,538 | 16 |
| 51 | Illinois | $23,636 | $19,000 | 12,802,023 | 673 |
Highest paying states for operations inspectors
| Rank | State | Avg. Operations Inspector Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,557 |
| 2 | Ohio | $33,782 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $34,798 |
| 4 | Montana | $33,382 |
| 5 | Utah | $31,022 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $39,268 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $30,597 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $32,354 |
| 9 | Iowa | $30,567 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $32,338 |
| 11 | Idaho | $30,882 |
| 12 | Alaska | $33,418 |
| 13 | Maine | $30,299 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $40,493 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $32,680 |
| 16 | Indiana | $28,937 |
| 17 | Nevada | $29,772 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $31,699 |
| 19 | Maryland | $34,298 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $30,180 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $29,583 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $29,449 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $29,901 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $28,673 |
| 25 | Arizona | $30,367 |
| 26 | Vermont | $30,515 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $27,856 |
| 28 | Colorado | $30,739 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $30,263 |
| 30 | Missouri | $28,905 |
| 31 | Kansas | $28,358 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $30,686 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $26,645 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $25,589 |
| 35 | Michigan | $26,509 |
| 36 | California | $29,482 |
| 37 | New York | $29,032 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $24,734 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $26,737 |
| 40 | Oregon | $28,605 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $22,858 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $25,793 |
| 43 | Florida | $24,495 |
| 44 | Virginia | $28,233 |
| 45 | Georgia | $22,813 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $24,810 |
| 47 | Delaware | $27,522 |
| 48 | Texas | $22,833 |
| 49 | Alabama | $23,059 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $26,113 |
| 51 | Illinois | $23,636 |
Operations inspector best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025