Best states for an operator trainee

Q: What is the best state for operators trainee?

The best state to be an operator trainee is Pennsylvania based on operator trainee salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for operators trainee?

The highest paying state for operators trainee is Wyoming based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for operators trainee?

The worst state for operators trainee is Wyoming, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Are you thinking of becoming an operator trainee and really want to work at Kelly Services? Turns out, your chances to become an operator trainee are better in some states than others.Our research found that Pennsylvania is the best state for operators trainee, while Hawaii and Washington are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Pennsylvania has a median salary of $40,183 and Hawaii has the highest median salary among all 50 states for operators trainee.

The median salary for operators trainee in Pennsylvania is $40,183. Compare that to the median salary in Wyoming of $22,740, which ranked worst for operators trainee, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for operators trainee, and the Midwest is the worst. Middletown, CT is the best city in the country for operator trainee jobs, where as Pennsylvania is the best state in the country.

10 best states for operators trainee in 2025

1. Pennsylvania
Total operator trainee jobs: 1,291
Average annual salary: $40,183
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Operator trainee jobs in Pennsylvania
2. North Carolina
Total operator trainee jobs: 1,032
Average annual salary: $40,372
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Operator trainee jobs in North Carolina
3. Kentucky
Total operator trainee jobs: 466
Average annual salary: $37,879
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.32
Operator trainee jobs in Kentucky
4. Indiana
Total operator trainee jobs: 821
Average annual salary: $38,440
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.3
Operator trainee jobs in Indiana
5. Wisconsin
Total operator trainee jobs: 770
Average annual salary: $38,064
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.45
Operator trainee jobs in Wisconsin
6. Hawaii
Total operator trainee jobs: 155
Average annual salary: $43,842
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.93
Operator trainee jobs in Hawaii
7. Minnesota
Total operator trainee jobs: 719
Average annual salary: $40,043
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Operator trainee jobs in Minnesota
8. North Dakota
Total operator trainee jobs: 120
Average annual salary: $37,646
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Operator trainee jobs in North Dakota
9. Connecticut
Total operator trainee jobs: 349
Average annual salary: $40,613
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Operator trainee jobs in Connecticut
10. Kansas
Total operator trainee jobs: 257
Average annual salary: $39,521
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Operator trainee jobs in Kansas

Operator trainee jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an operator trainee

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

Detailed list of the best states for an operator trainee

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Pennsylvania	$40,183	$31,000	12,805,537	1,291
2	North Carolina	$40,372	$31,000	10,273,419	1,032
3	Kentucky	$37,879	$30,000	4,454,189	466
4	Indiana	$38,440	$30,000	6,666,818	821
5	Wisconsin	$38,064	$30,000	5,795,483	770
6	Hawaii	$43,842	$36,000	1,427,538	155
7	Minnesota	$40,043	$32,000	5,576,606	719
8	North Dakota	$37,646	$31,000	755,393	120
9	Connecticut	$40,613	$31,000	3,588,184	349
10	Kansas	$39,521	$31,000	2,913,123	257
11	Rhode Island	$36,764	$28,000	1,059,639	231
12	Missouri	$38,944	$31,000	6,113,532	552
13	Texas	$39,448	$30,000	28,304,596	1,695
14	Ohio	$36,378	$29,000	11,658,609	1,286
15	Alaska	$38,717	$34,000	739,795	139
16	South Carolina	$37,056	$28,000	5,024,369	485
17	Washington	$41,271	$33,000	7,405,743	436
18	Georgia	$36,757	$28,000	10,429,379	983
19	South Dakota	$35,176	$28,000	869,666	124
20	Massachusetts	$36,164	$28,000	6,859,819	1,606
21	Arizona	$37,677	$29,000	7,016,270	390
22	Colorado	$39,135	$31,000	5,607,154	304
23	Illinois	$37,204	$29,000	12,802,023	1,216
24	Tennessee	$34,858	$27,000	6,715,984	643
25	California	$39,771	$31,000	39,536,653	1,778
26	New Hampshire	$35,419	$28,000	1,342,795	193
27	Idaho	$36,616	$29,000	1,716,943	133
28	Delaware	$36,653	$28,000	961,939	86
29	Nevada	$36,246	$28,000	2,998,039	129
30	Oregon	$37,885	$30,000	4,142,776	237
31	Utah	$35,012	$28,000	3,101,833	301
32	Iowa	$33,482	$27,000	3,145,711	450
33	New Jersey	$34,905	$27,000	9,005,644	1,218
34	District of Columbia	$36,628	$28,000	693,972	160
35	Maryland	$36,914	$28,000	6,052,177	431
36	Arkansas	$33,828	$26,000	3,004,279	250
37	New Mexico	$35,296	$27,000	2,088,070	136
38	Florida	$35,578	$26,000	20,984,400	1,311
39	Louisiana	$33,066	$25,000	4,684,333	387
40	West Virginia	$31,400	$24,000	1,815,857	188
41	Maine	$34,172	$27,000	1,335,907	124
42	Nebraska	$33,434	$26,000	1,920,076	227
43	Michigan	$32,185	$25,000	9,962,311	833
44	Mississippi	$30,269	$23,000	2,984,100	307
45	New York	$34,996	$27,000	19,849,399	988
46	Montana	$32,098	$26,000	1,050,493	98
47	Alabama	$30,477	$23,000	4,874,747	400
48	Oklahoma	$30,948	$24,000	3,930,864	251
49	Vermont	$31,265	$25,000	623,657	59
50	Virginia	$31,009	$24,000	8,470,020	564
51	Wyoming	$22,740	$18,000	579,315	31

Highest paying states for operators trainee

Rank	State	Avg. Operator Trainee Salary
1	Pennsylvania	$40,183
2	North Carolina	$40,372
3	Kentucky	$37,879
4	Indiana	$38,440
5	Wisconsin	$38,064
6	Hawaii	$43,842
7	Minnesota	$40,043
8	North Dakota	$37,646
9	Connecticut	$40,613
10	Kansas	$39,521
11	Rhode Island	$36,764
12	Missouri	$38,944
13	Texas	$39,448
14	Ohio	$36,378
15	Alaska	$38,717
16	South Carolina	$37,056
17	Washington	$41,271
18	Georgia	$36,757
19	South Dakota	$35,176
20	Massachusetts	$36,164
21	Arizona	$37,677
22	Colorado	$39,135
23	Illinois	$37,204
24	Tennessee	$34,858
25	California	$39,771
26	New Hampshire	$35,419
27	Idaho	$36,616
28	Delaware	$36,653
29	Nevada	$36,246
30	Oregon	$37,885
31	Utah	$35,012
32	Iowa	$33,482
33	New Jersey	$34,905
34	District of Columbia	$36,628
35	Maryland	$36,914
36	Arkansas	$33,828
37	New Mexico	$35,296
38	Florida	$35,578
39	Louisiana	$33,066
40	West Virginia	$31,400
41	Maine	$34,172
42	Nebraska	$33,434
43	Michigan	$32,185
44	Mississippi	$30,269
45	New York	$34,996
46	Montana	$32,098
47	Alabama	$30,477
48	Oklahoma	$30,948
49	Vermont	$31,265
50	Virginia	$31,009
51	Wyoming	$22,740

Operator trainee best states FAQs

What is the best state for operators trainee?

What is the highest paying state for operators trainee?

What is the worst state for operators trainee?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

Search for operator trainee jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total operator trainee jobs:	1,291
Average annual salary:	$40,183
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$51,000
Location Quotient:	1.16

Best states for an operator trainee

10 best states for operators trainee in 2025

1. Pennsylvania

2. North Carolina

3. Kentucky

4. Indiana

5. Wisconsin

6. Hawaii

7. Minnesota

8. North Dakota

9. Connecticut

10. Kansas