Best states for a process operator

Q: What is the best state for process operators?

The best state to be a process operator is New Hampshire based on process operator salaries and job opportunities.

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

The highest paying state for process operators is Nevada based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for process operators?

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

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

It seems like process operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for process operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In order to help you decide which state is the best for process operators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for process operator jobs.

New Hampshire is the best state for jobs for process operators, and Kentucky is the worst. The most common pay in New Hampshire is $46,257, while the median pay in Kentucky is $32,510.We found that the South is best for process operators, and the Midwest is the worst. Grand Forks, ND is the best city in the country for process operator jobs, where as New Hampshire is the best state in the country.

10 best states for process operators in 2025

1. New Hampshire
Total process operator jobs: 218
Average annual salary: $46,257
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
1.86
Process operator jobs in New Hampshire
2. Wisconsin
Total process operator jobs: 698
Average annual salary: $44,020
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
1.88
Process operator jobs in Wisconsin
3. Kansas
Total process operator jobs: 236
Average annual salary: $44,727
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Process operator jobs in Kansas
4. Delaware
Total process operator jobs: 117
Average annual salary: $44,823
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
1.39
Process operator jobs in Delaware
5. North Dakota
Total process operator jobs: 49
Average annual salary: $49,170
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
0.78
Process operator jobs in North Dakota
6. Indiana
Total process operator jobs: 773
Average annual salary: $41,982
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.75
Process operator jobs in Indiana
7. Wyoming
Total process operator jobs: 27
Average annual salary: $55,850
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Location Quotient:
0.67
Process operator jobs in Wyoming
8. Idaho
Total process operator jobs: 139
Average annual salary: $42,703
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Process operator jobs in Idaho
9. Illinois
Total process operator jobs: 936
Average annual salary: $43,583
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Process operator jobs in Illinois
10. Rhode Island
Total process operator jobs: 178
Average annual salary: $41,067
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
2.18
Process operator jobs in Rhode Island

Process operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a process operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a process operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Hampshire	$46,257	$35,000	1,342,795	218
2	Wisconsin	$44,020	$34,000	5,795,483	698
3	Kansas	$44,727	$33,000	2,913,123	236
4	Delaware	$44,823	$32,000	961,939	117
5	North Dakota	$49,170	$39,000	755,393	49
6	Indiana	$41,982	$31,000	6,666,818	773
7	Wyoming	$55,850	$43,000	579,315	27
8	Idaho	$42,703	$33,000	1,716,943	139
9	Illinois	$43,583	$33,000	12,802,023	936
10	Rhode Island	$41,067	$30,000	1,059,639	178
11	Iowa	$40,487	$31,000	3,145,711	366
12	Montana	$45,373	$35,000	1,050,493	55
13	Maine	$45,231	$35,000	1,335,907	0
14	Nebraska	$40,608	$31,000	1,920,076	187
15	Missouri	$41,585	$31,000	6,113,532	458
16	District of Columbia	$43,769	$32,000	693,972	186
17	Pennsylvania	$40,302	$29,000	12,805,537	935
18	Alaska	$40,718	$36,000	739,795	107
19	Hawaii	$43,377	$36,000	1,427,538	101
20	Massachusetts	$43,974	$33,000	6,859,819	0
21	Michigan	$38,433	$29,000	9,962,311	633
22	New Jersey	$38,615	$28,000	9,005,644	1,130
23	Minnesota	$41,779	$32,000	5,576,606	0
24	New York	$41,668	$30,000	19,849,399	873
25	Oklahoma	$40,219	$30,000	3,930,864	122
26	Arkansas	$37,952	$28,000	3,004,279	159
27	Utah	$37,394	$28,000	3,101,833	288
28	Oregon	$39,720	$31,000	4,142,776	272
29	Alabama	$37,850	$28,000	4,874,747	273
30	Washington	$40,782	$32,000	7,405,743	339
31	Colorado	$40,424	$31,000	5,607,154	304
32	Mississippi	$37,262	$27,000	2,984,100	160
33	Ohio	$35,558	$26,000	11,658,609	1,040
34	Connecticut	$39,345	$28,000	3,588,184	0
35	South Dakota	$36,936	$28,000	869,666	56
36	Louisiana	$37,495	$28,000	4,684,333	124
37	California	$38,224	$28,000	39,536,653	2,152
38	West Virginia	$36,419	$27,000	1,815,857	78
39	North Carolina	$33,957	$25,000	10,273,419	1,013
40	Texas	$36,551	$27,000	28,304,596	1,135
41	Tennessee	$34,379	$25,000	6,715,984	441
42	Arizona	$36,065	$27,000	7,016,270	399
43	South Carolina	$34,802	$25,000	5,024,369	318
44	Vermont	$35,081	$27,000	623,657	53
45	Virginia	$35,873	$26,000	8,470,020	538
46	Georgia	$36,025	$26,000	10,429,379	0
47	Maryland	$35,191	$25,000	6,052,177	388
48	Nevada	$32,374	$24,000	2,998,039	147
49	New Mexico	$33,909	$25,000	2,088,070	77
50	Florida	$32,566	$23,000	20,984,400	906
51	Kentucky	$32,510	$24,000	4,454,189	0

Highest paying states for process operators

Rank	State	Avg. Process Operator Salary
1	New Hampshire	$46,257
2	Wisconsin	$44,020
3	Kansas	$44,727
4	Delaware	$44,823
5	North Dakota	$49,170
6	Indiana	$41,982
7	Wyoming	$55,850
8	Idaho	$42,703
9	Illinois	$43,583
10	Rhode Island	$41,067
11	Iowa	$40,487
12	Montana	$45,373
13	Maine	$45,231
14	Nebraska	$40,608
15	Missouri	$41,585
16	District of Columbia	$43,769
17	Pennsylvania	$40,302
18	Alaska	$40,718
19	Hawaii	$43,377
20	Massachusetts	$43,974
21	Michigan	$38,433
22	New Jersey	$38,615
23	Minnesota	$41,779
24	New York	$41,668
25	Oklahoma	$40,219
26	Arkansas	$37,952
27	Utah	$37,394
28	Oregon	$39,720
29	Alabama	$37,850
30	Washington	$40,782
31	Colorado	$40,424
32	Mississippi	$37,262
33	Ohio	$35,558
34	Connecticut	$39,345
35	South Dakota	$36,936
36	Louisiana	$37,495
37	California	$38,224
38	West Virginia	$36,419
39	North Carolina	$33,957
40	Texas	$36,551
41	Tennessee	$34,379
42	Arizona	$36,065
43	South Carolina	$34,802
44	Vermont	$35,081
45	Virginia	$35,873
46	Georgia	$36,025
47	Maryland	$35,191
48	Nevada	$32,374
49	New Mexico	$33,909
50	Florida	$32,566
51	Kentucky	$32,510

Process operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for process operators?

What is the highest paying state for process operators?

What is the worst state for process operators?

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

Search for process operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total process operator jobs:	218
Average annual salary:	$46,257
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$60,000
Location Quotient:	1.86

Best states for a process operator

10 best states for process operators in 2025

1. New Hampshire

2. Wisconsin

3. Kansas

4. Delaware

5. North Dakota

6. Indiana

7. Wyoming

8. Idaho

9. Illinois

10. Rhode Island