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Best states for a paving machine operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like paving machine operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for paving machine operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for paving machine operators. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for paving machine operators, and people in Anchorage earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for paving machine operators, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for paving machine operators, and the Midwest is the worst. Parma, OH is the best city in the country for paving machine operator jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for paving machine operators in 2025
1. Alaska
Total paving machine operator jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $57,200 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 3.37
2. Minnesota
Total paving machine operator jobs: 305 Average annual salary: $49,845 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
3. Pennsylvania
Total paving machine operator jobs: 401 Average annual salary: $51,067 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
4. Ohio
Total paving machine operator jobs: 474 Average annual salary: $45,383 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
5. Wisconsin
Total paving machine operator jobs: 445 Average annual salary: $44,425 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 2.15
6. Michigan
Total paving machine operator jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $43,179 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
7. Indiana
Total paving machine operator jobs: 327 Average annual salary: $41,608 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
8. Kentucky
Total paving machine operator jobs: 160 Average annual salary: $41,685 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
9. Oregon
Total paving machine operator jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $45,914 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
10. North Dakota
Total paving machine operator jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $46,099 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 0.29
Paving machine operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a paving machine operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a paving machine operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $57,200 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 105 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $49,845 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 305 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $51,067 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 401 |
| 4 | Ohio | $45,383 | $31,000 | 11,658,609 | 474 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $44,425 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 445 |
| 6 | Michigan | $43,179 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 268 |
| 7 | Indiana | $41,608 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 327 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $41,685 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 160 |
| 9 | Oregon | $45,914 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 103 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $46,099 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 10 |
| 11 | Washington | $47,678 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 103 |
| 12 | Idaho | $44,323 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 31 |
| 13 | Illinois | $42,513 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 480 |
| 14 | Arizona | $43,480 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 123 |
| 15 | Utah | $41,751 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 100 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $44,233 | $30,000 | 1,815,857 | 13 |
| 17 | California | $48,500 | $33,000 | 39,536,653 | 474 |
| 18 | Maine | $42,599 | $31,000 | 1,335,907 | 29 |
| 19 | Alabama | $41,484 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 103 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $41,328 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 55 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $39,364 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 387 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $41,803 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 6 |
| 23 | Kansas | $39,260 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 112 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $38,166 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 142 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $39,193 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 786 |
| 26 | Virginia | $42,977 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 121 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $36,844 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 255 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $38,857 | $31,000 | 1,427,538 | 92 |
| 29 | Colorado | $41,783 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 88 |
| 30 | Missouri | $39,793 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 157 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $37,600 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,222 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $36,771 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 136 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $38,688 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 116 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $37,916 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 57 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $36,811 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 75 |
| 36 | Maryland | $37,312 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 903 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $36,257 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 37 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $39,347 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 2 |
| 39 | Nevada | $38,950 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 28 |
| 40 | New York | $39,253 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 201 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $36,942 | $25,000 | 693,972 | 110 |
| 42 | Iowa | $35,586 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 149 |
| 43 | Montana | $37,478 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 23 |
| 44 | Georgia | $35,266 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 428 |
| 45 | Delaware | $38,073 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 23 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $36,769 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 41 |
| 47 | Vermont | $35,994 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 19 |
| 48 | Florida | $34,389 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 318 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $31,276 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 134 |
| 50 | Texas | $32,600 | $22,000 | 28,304,596 | 342 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $31,422 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 50 |
Highest paying states for paving machine operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Paving Machine Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $57,200 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $49,845 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $51,067 |
| 4 | Ohio | $45,383 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $44,425 |
| 6 | Michigan | $43,179 |
| 7 | Indiana | $41,608 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $41,685 |
| 9 | Oregon | $45,914 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $46,099 |
| 11 | Washington | $47,678 |
| 12 | Idaho | $44,323 |
| 13 | Illinois | $42,513 |
| 14 | Arizona | $43,480 |
| 15 | Utah | $41,751 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $44,233 |
| 17 | California | $48,500 |
| 18 | Maine | $42,599 |
| 19 | Alabama | $41,484 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $41,328 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $39,364 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $41,803 |
| 23 | Kansas | $39,260 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $38,166 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $39,193 |
| 26 | Virginia | $42,977 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $36,844 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $38,857 |
| 29 | Colorado | $41,783 |
| 30 | Missouri | $39,793 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $37,600 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $36,771 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $38,688 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $37,916 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $36,811 |
| 36 | Maryland | $37,312 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $36,257 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $39,347 |
| 39 | Nevada | $38,950 |
| 40 | New York | $39,253 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $36,942 |
| 42 | Iowa | $35,586 |
| 43 | Montana | $37,478 |
| 44 | Georgia | $35,266 |
| 45 | Delaware | $38,073 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $36,769 |
| 47 | Vermont | $35,994 |
| 48 | Florida | $34,389 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $31,276 |
| 50 | Texas | $32,600 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $31,422 |
Paving machine operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025