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Best states for an operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming an operator and really want to work at Target? Turns out, your chances to become an operator are better in some states than others.We wanted to look at the best states for operators -- where there are plenty of operator jobs to go around and operators get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
Wyoming is the best state for jobs for operators, and Florida is the worst. The most common pay in Wyoming is $43,951, while the median pay in Florida is $32,778.We found that Wyoming is the best state for operator jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for operators in 2025
1. Wyoming
Total operator jobs: 415 Average annual salary: $43,951 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
2. Oregon
Total operator jobs: 2,230 Average annual salary: $46,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
3. Minnesota
Total operator jobs: 5,174 Average annual salary: $43,652 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
4. Washington
Total operator jobs: 2,671 Average annual salary: $47,937 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
5. North Dakota
Total operator jobs: 234 Average annual salary: $49,742 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 0.55
6. Utah
Total operator jobs: 1,570 Average annual salary: $43,464 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
7. Nevada
Total operator jobs: 623 Average annual salary: $44,769 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
8. Montana
Total operator jobs: 332 Average annual salary: $44,211 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
9. Wisconsin
Total operator jobs: 4,343 Average annual salary: $40,623 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
10. Idaho
Total operator jobs: 1,435 Average annual salary: $41,049 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.92
Operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $43,951 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 415 |
| 2 | Oregon | $46,205 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,230 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $43,652 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 5,174 |
| 4 | Washington | $47,937 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,671 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $49,742 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 234 |
| 6 | Utah | $43,464 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,570 |
| 7 | Nevada | $44,769 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 623 |
| 8 | Montana | $44,211 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 332 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $40,623 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 4,343 |
| 10 | Idaho | $41,049 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,435 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $49,399 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,008 |
| 12 | Iowa | $39,062 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 3,316 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $44,515 | $30,000 | 1,059,639 | 167 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $40,907 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 5,902 |
| 15 | New York | $45,663 | $30,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,918 |
| 16 | Alaska | $47,106 | $38,000 | 739,795 | 106 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $42,498 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 458 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $44,639 | $30,000 | 3,588,184 | 582 |
| 19 | California | $46,788 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,746 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $44,151 | $31,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,349 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $36,858 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,391 |
| 22 | Illinois | $40,649 | $29,000 | 12,802,023 | 6,669 |
| 23 | Colorado | $41,834 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,216 |
| 24 | Delaware | $42,299 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 426 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $38,743 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,521 |
| 26 | Michigan | $37,951 | $27,000 | 9,962,311 | 4,754 |
| 27 | Indiana | $37,305 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 4,333 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $39,475 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 591 |
| 29 | Ohio | $37,025 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 6,221 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $36,142 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 3,291 |
| 31 | Virginia | $39,176 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,426 |
| 32 | Maryland | $42,297 | $28,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,290 |
| 33 | Vermont | $39,996 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 180 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $38,313 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 212 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $44,481 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 107 |
| 36 | Maine | $38,881 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 291 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $36,505 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,702 |
| 38 | Kansas | $35,985 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,292 |
| 39 | Texas | $35,054 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 11,299 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $33,422 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,498 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $32,293 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 4,800 |
| 42 | Arizona | $36,980 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,652 |
| 43 | Missouri | $35,752 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 2,137 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $33,288 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 6,205 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $31,849 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 4,039 |
| 46 | Georgia | $32,882 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 6,788 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $39,357 | $26,000 | 693,972 | 141 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $33,390 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,131 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $31,928 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,190 |
| 50 | Alabama | $31,413 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,369 |
| 51 | Florida | $32,778 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,136 |
Highest paying states for operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $43,951 |
| 2 | Oregon | $46,205 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $43,652 |
| 4 | Washington | $47,937 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $49,742 |
| 6 | Utah | $43,464 |
| 7 | Nevada | $44,769 |
| 8 | Montana | $44,211 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $40,623 |
| 10 | Idaho | $41,049 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $49,399 |
| 12 | Iowa | $39,062 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $44,515 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $40,907 |
| 15 | New York | $45,663 |
| 16 | Alaska | $47,106 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $42,498 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $44,639 |
| 19 | California | $46,788 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $44,151 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $36,858 |
| 22 | Illinois | $40,649 |
| 23 | Colorado | $41,834 |
| 24 | Delaware | $42,299 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $38,743 |
| 26 | Michigan | $37,951 |
| 27 | Indiana | $37,305 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $39,475 |
| 29 | Ohio | $37,025 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $36,142 |
| 31 | Virginia | $39,176 |
| 32 | Maryland | $42,297 |
| 33 | Vermont | $39,996 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $38,313 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $44,481 |
| 36 | Maine | $38,881 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $36,505 |
| 38 | Kansas | $35,985 |
| 39 | Texas | $35,054 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $33,422 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $32,293 |
| 42 | Arizona | $36,980 |
| 43 | Missouri | $35,752 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $33,288 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $31,849 |
| 46 | Georgia | $32,882 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $39,357 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $33,390 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $31,928 |
| 50 | Alabama | $31,413 |
| 51 | Florida | $32,778 |
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Updated January 8, 2025