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Best states for an owner/operator
Quoted expert
Randy Myer
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Are you thinking of becoming an owner/operator and really want to work at Landstar System? Turns out, your chances to become an owner/operator are better in some states than others.In order to help you decide which state is the best for owner/operators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for owner/operator jobs.
North Dakota is the best state for jobs for owner/operators, and Hawaii is the worst. The most common pay in North Dakota is $175,054, while the median pay in Hawaii is $124,852.We found that the South is best for owner/operators, and the Midwest is the worst. Bridgeport, CT is the best city in the country for owner/operator jobs, where as North Dakota is the best state in the country.
10 best states for owner/operators in 2026
1. North Dakota
Total owner/operator jobs: 1,643 Average annual salary: $175,054 Lowest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location Quotient: 2.27
2. Wyoming
Total owner/operator jobs: 427 Average annual salary: $180,627 Lowest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
3. Utah
Total owner/operator jobs: 2,883 Average annual salary: $174,457 Lowest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
4. Oregon
Total owner/operator jobs: 1,904 Average annual salary: $188,607 Lowest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $257,000 Location Quotient: 0.59
5. Rhode Island
Total owner/operator jobs: 354 Average annual salary: $181,529 Lowest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location Quotient: 0.37
6. South Dakota
Total owner/operator jobs: 1,642 Average annual salary: $165,492 Lowest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location Quotient: 1.97
7. Pennsylvania
Total owner/operator jobs: 10,197 Average annual salary: $168,550 Lowest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
8. Illinois
Total owner/operator jobs: 13,751 Average annual salary: $172,352 Lowest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $245,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
9. Delaware
Total owner/operator jobs: 971 Average annual salary: $174,779 Lowest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $247,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
10. Oklahoma
Total owner/operator jobs: 5,103 Average annual salary: $162,479 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location Quotient: 2.13
Owner/operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an owner/operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an owner/operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $175,054 | $125,000 | 755,393 | 1,643 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $180,627 | $129,000 | 579,315 | 427 |
| 3 | Utah | $174,457 | $123,000 | 3,101,833 | 2,883 |
| 4 | Oregon | $188,607 | $137,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,904 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $181,529 | $131,000 | 1,059,639 | 354 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $165,492 | $116,000 | 869,666 | 1,642 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $168,550 | $118,000 | 12,805,537 | 10,197 |
| 8 | Illinois | $172,352 | $120,000 | 12,802,023 | 13,751 |
| 9 | Delaware | $174,779 | $123,000 | 961,939 | 971 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $162,479 | $110,000 | 3,930,864 | 5,103 |
| 11 | Alaska | $182,238 | $136,000 | 739,795 | 118 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $181,411 | $130,000 | 3,588,184 | 505 |
| 13 | Washington | $179,054 | $129,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,306 |
| 14 | Idaho | $167,170 | $118,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,196 |
| 15 | Kansas | $160,522 | $109,000 | 2,913,123 | 5,405 |
| 16 | Montana | $169,625 | $121,000 | 1,050,493 | 291 |
| 17 | Indiana | $160,414 | $110,000 | 6,666,818 | 5,908 |
| 18 | Iowa | $160,722 | $110,000 | 3,145,711 | 3,726 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $157,618 | $106,000 | 4,454,189 | 5,665 |
| 20 | Ohio | $159,503 | $109,000 | 11,658,609 | 11,375 |
| 21 | Virginia | $166,157 | $114,000 | 8,470,020 | 10,323 |
| 22 | Missouri | $161,139 | $110,000 | 6,113,532 | 7,930 |
| 23 | Nevada | $164,698 | $113,000 | 2,998,039 | 855 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $173,017 | $123,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,806 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $161,699 | $112,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,489 |
| 26 | Colorado | $165,872 | $114,000 | 5,607,154 | 5,383 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $165,748 | $116,000 | 5,576,606 | 4,077 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $162,266 | $110,000 | 10,273,419 | 5,074 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $156,426 | $105,000 | 6,715,984 | 4,295 |
| 30 | Arizona | $163,073 | $111,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,088 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $159,651 | $109,000 | 1,920,076 | 2,583 |
| 32 | Vermont | $166,258 | $118,000 | 623,657 | 208 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $154,043 | $102,000 | 2,984,100 | 3,390 |
| 34 | New York | $165,710 | $116,000 | 19,849,399 | 7,714 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $168,208 | $118,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,964 |
| 36 | California | $167,141 | $115,000 | 39,536,653 | 14,402 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $153,003 | $102,000 | 3,004,279 | 4,168 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $149,339 | $101,000 | 1,815,857 | 4,036 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $154,820 | $102,000 | 4,684,333 | 4,284 |
| 40 | Georgia | $155,501 | $103,000 | 10,429,379 | 12,069 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $164,872 | $116,000 | 1,342,795 | 253 |
| 42 | Michigan | $158,710 | $109,000 | 9,962,311 | 4,543 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $167,912 | $117,000 | 693,972 | 244 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $154,639 | $103,000 | 5,024,369 | 4,146 |
| 45 | Alabama | $147,994 | $97,000 | 4,874,747 | 5,499 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $154,158 | $103,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,998 |
| 47 | Texas | $152,130 | $100,000 | 28,304,596 | 23,682 |
| 48 | Maryland | $159,644 | $110,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,488 |
| 49 | Maine | $157,412 | $111,000 | 1,335,907 | 301 |
| 50 | Florida | $142,129 | $91,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,456 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $124,852 | $77,000 | 1,427,538 | 117 |
Highest paying states for owner/operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Owner/Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $175,054 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $180,627 |
| 3 | Utah | $174,457 |
| 4 | Oregon | $188,607 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $181,529 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $165,492 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $168,550 |
| 8 | Illinois | $172,352 |
| 9 | Delaware | $174,779 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $162,479 |
| 11 | Alaska | $182,238 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $181,411 |
| 13 | Washington | $179,054 |
| 14 | Idaho | $167,170 |
| 15 | Kansas | $160,522 |
| 16 | Montana | $169,625 |
| 17 | Indiana | $160,414 |
| 18 | Iowa | $160,722 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $157,618 |
| 20 | Ohio | $159,503 |
| 21 | Virginia | $166,157 |
| 22 | Missouri | $161,139 |
| 23 | Nevada | $164,698 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $173,017 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $161,699 |
| 26 | Colorado | $165,872 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $165,748 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $162,266 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $156,426 |
| 30 | Arizona | $163,073 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $159,651 |
| 32 | Vermont | $166,258 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $154,043 |
| 34 | New York | $165,710 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $168,208 |
| 36 | California | $167,141 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $153,003 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $149,339 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $154,820 |
| 40 | Georgia | $155,501 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $164,872 |
| 42 | Michigan | $158,710 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $167,912 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $154,639 |
| 45 | Alabama | $147,994 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $154,158 |
| 47 | Texas | $152,130 |
| 48 | Maryland | $159,644 |
| 49 | Maine | $157,412 |
| 50 | Florida | $142,129 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $124,852 |
Expert opinions on the best states for owner/operators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for owner/operators to find work opportunities?
Randy Myer
Professor of the Practice, University of North Carolina
The major technology centers in the country are driving innovation and new companies. Job growth is most prevalent in young companies, and most of those start in hubs like Austin, TX or Raleigh Durham, NC. Yes, Silicon Valley is a major hub but so expensive, and CA is in trouble at so many levels, pick a hub that still knows how to manage growth
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Updated January 8, 2025