Best states for a plant operator

Q: What is the best state for plant operators?

The best state to be a plant operator is Vermont based on plant operator salaries and job opportunities.

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

The highest paying state for plant operators is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for plant operators?

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

Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like plant operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for plant operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for plant operator jobs.

We figured that the best places for plant operator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a plant operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for plant operators in 2025

1. Vermont
Total plant operator jobs: 50
Average annual salary: $57,199
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000
Location Quotient:
1.72
Plant operator jobs in Vermont
2. Idaho
Total plant operator jobs: 66
Average annual salary: $63,654
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Plant operator jobs in Idaho
3. Rhode Island
Total plant operator jobs: 158
Average annual salary: $49,534
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
3.44
Plant operator jobs in Rhode Island
4. North Dakota
Total plant operator jobs: 40
Average annual salary: $52,255
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Plant operator jobs in North Dakota
5. Massachusetts
Total plant operator jobs: 1,272
Average annual salary: $48,543
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
3.66
Plant operator jobs in Massachusetts
6. Maine
Total plant operator jobs: 36
Average annual salary: $61,227
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Plant operator jobs in Maine
7. South Dakota
Total plant operator jobs: 58
Average annual salary: $46,315
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
1.43
Plant operator jobs in South Dakota
8. Alaska
Total plant operator jobs: 96
Average annual salary: $49,816
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
3.04
Plant operator jobs in Alaska
9. Delaware
Total plant operator jobs: 64
Average annual salary: $48,923
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Plant operator jobs in Delaware
10. Minnesota
Total plant operator jobs: 225
Average annual salary: $51,064
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Plant operator jobs in Minnesota

Plant operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a plant operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a plant operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Vermont	$57,199	$43,000	623,657	50
2	Idaho	$63,654	$49,000	1,716,943	66
3	Rhode Island	$49,534	$36,000	1,059,639	158
4	North Dakota	$52,255	$42,000	755,393	40
5	Massachusetts	$48,543	$35,000	6,859,819	1,272
6	Maine	$61,227	$47,000	1,335,907	36
7	South Dakota	$46,315	$36,000	869,666	58
8	Alaska	$49,816	$44,000	739,795	96
9	Delaware	$48,923	$34,000	961,939	64
10	Minnesota	$51,064	$39,000	5,576,606	225
11	Wisconsin	$46,304	$35,000	5,795,483	254
12	Connecticut	$59,539	$42,000	3,588,184	78
13	Washington	$61,065	$48,000	7,405,743	121
14	New Hampshire	$47,690	$35,000	1,342,795	65
15	West Virginia	$44,106	$32,000	1,815,857	80
16	California	$57,440	$42,000	39,536,653	684
17	Wyoming	$43,060	$33,000	579,315	44
18	District of Columbia	$46,101	$32,000	693,972	129
19	New Jersey	$43,552	$31,000	9,005,644	934
20	Pennsylvania	$44,871	$32,000	12,805,537	364
21	Arizona	$46,381	$34,000	7,016,270	175
22	Nevada	$43,154	$32,000	2,998,039	85
23	New York	$48,543	$34,000	19,849,399	383
24	Ohio	$42,741	$31,000	11,658,609	373
25	Indiana	$41,795	$31,000	6,666,818	279
26	Iowa	$41,466	$31,000	3,145,711	202
27	Colorado	$47,368	$36,000	5,607,154	156
28	Utah	$43,253	$33,000	3,101,833	114
29	Illinois	$45,576	$34,000	12,802,023	356
30	Montana	$39,778	$31,000	1,050,493	71
31	Hawaii	$40,429	$32,000	1,427,538	111
32	Michigan	$40,995	$30,000	9,962,311	240
33	Nebraska	$39,598	$30,000	1,920,076	79
34	Alabama	$38,161	$29,000	4,874,747	160
35	Oregon	$42,297	$33,000	4,142,776	85
36	Virginia	$42,256	$30,000	8,470,020	237
37	New Mexico	$37,686	$28,000	2,088,070	70
38	North Carolina	$37,279	$27,000	10,273,419	298
39	Kentucky	$34,082	$25,000	4,454,189	149
40	Kansas	$34,511	$26,000	2,913,123	119
41	Maryland	$40,966	$29,000	6,052,177	161
42	Missouri	$37,396	$28,000	6,113,532	151
43	Mississippi	$30,014	$22,000	2,984,100	108
44	Tennessee	$32,784	$24,000	6,715,984	209
45	Texas	$36,184	$27,000	28,304,596	493
46	Oklahoma	$34,033	$26,000	3,930,864	86
47	South Carolina	$29,209	$21,000	5,024,369	181
48	Arkansas	$31,217	$23,000	3,004,279	87
49	Louisiana	$31,662	$23,000	4,684,333	105
50	Florida	$36,094	$26,000	20,984,400	361
51	Georgia	$31,811	$24,000	10,429,379	290

Highest paying states for plant operators

Rank	State	Avg. Plant Operator Salary
1	Vermont	$57,199
2	Idaho	$63,654
3	Rhode Island	$49,534
4	North Dakota	$52,255
5	Massachusetts	$48,543
6	Maine	$61,227
7	South Dakota	$46,315
8	Alaska	$49,816
9	Delaware	$48,923
10	Minnesota	$51,064
11	Wisconsin	$46,304
12	Connecticut	$59,539
13	Washington	$61,065
14	New Hampshire	$47,690
15	West Virginia	$44,106
16	California	$57,440
17	Wyoming	$43,060
18	District of Columbia	$46,101
19	New Jersey	$43,552
20	Pennsylvania	$44,871
21	Arizona	$46,381
22	Nevada	$43,154
23	New York	$48,543
24	Ohio	$42,741
25	Indiana	$41,795
26	Iowa	$41,466
27	Colorado	$47,368
28	Utah	$43,253
29	Illinois	$45,576
30	Montana	$39,778
31	Hawaii	$40,429
32	Michigan	$40,995
33	Nebraska	$39,598
34	Alabama	$38,161
35	Oregon	$42,297
36	Virginia	$42,256
37	New Mexico	$37,686
38	North Carolina	$37,279
39	Kentucky	$34,082
40	Kansas	$34,511
41	Maryland	$40,966
42	Missouri	$37,396
43	Mississippi	$30,014
44	Tennessee	$32,784
45	Texas	$36,184
46	Oklahoma	$34,033
47	South Carolina	$29,209
48	Arkansas	$31,217
49	Louisiana	$31,662
50	Florida	$36,094
51	Georgia	$31,811

Plant operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for plant operators?

What is the highest paying state for plant operators?

What is the worst state for plant operators?

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

Search for plant operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total plant operator jobs:	50
Average annual salary:	$57,199
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$43,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$74,000
Location Quotient:	1.72

Best states for a plant operator

10 best states for plant operators in 2025

1. Vermont

2. Idaho

3. Rhode Island

4. North Dakota

5. Massachusetts

6. Maine

7. South Dakota

8. Alaska

9. Delaware

10. Minnesota