Best states for a production operator

Q: What is the best state for production operators?

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

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

The highest paying state for production operators is Alabama based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for production operators?

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

Rank 1 - 10
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for production operators? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for production operator jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research shows that New Hampshire is the best state in the country for production operators.

The median salary for production operators in New Hampshire is $41,114. Compare that to the median salary in Virginia of $27,134, which ranked worst for production operators, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a production operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for production operators in 2026

1. New Hampshire
Total production operator jobs: 348
Average annual salary: $41,114
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
1.49
Production operator jobs in New Hampshire
2. Massachusetts
Total production operator jobs: 1,815
Average annual salary: $42,873
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
1.48
Production operator jobs in Massachusetts
3. Minnesota
Total production operator jobs: 1,325
Average annual salary: $40,782
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
1.49
Production operator jobs in Minnesota
4. Iowa
Total production operator jobs: 757
Average annual salary: $38,804
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
1.56
Production operator jobs in Iowa
5. Wisconsin
Total production operator jobs: 1,524
Average annual salary: $38,320
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
2.06
Production operator jobs in Wisconsin
6. Nevada
Total production operator jobs: 231
Average annual salary: $40,498
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
0.83
Production operator jobs in Nevada
7. North Dakota
Total production operator jobs: 107
Average annual salary: $40,411
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Production operator jobs in North Dakota
8. Ohio
Total production operator jobs: 2,209
Average annual salary: $37,155
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
1.62
Production operator jobs in Ohio
9. Illinois
Total production operator jobs: 1,732
Average annual salary: $39,170
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
1.09
Production operator jobs in Illinois
10. Nebraska
Total production operator jobs: 411
Average annual salary: $37,772
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
1.38
Production operator jobs in Nebraska

Production operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a production operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a production operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Hampshire	$41,114	$32,000	1,342,795	348
2	Massachusetts	$42,873	$33,000	6,859,819	1,815
3	Minnesota	$40,782	$32,000	5,576,606	1,325
4	Iowa	$38,804	$29,000	3,145,711	757
5	Wisconsin	$38,320	$29,000	5,795,483	1,524
6	Nevada	$40,498	$31,000	2,998,039	231
7	North Dakota	$40,411	$32,000	755,393	107
8	Ohio	$37,155	$27,000	11,658,609	2,209
9	Illinois	$39,170	$29,000	12,802,023	1,732
10	Nebraska	$37,772	$29,000	1,920,076	411
11	Indiana	$36,492	$27,000	6,666,818	1,416
12	Vermont	$38,760	$31,000	623,657	137
13	Missouri	$38,391	$28,000	6,113,532	845
14	Washington	$41,610	$33,000	7,405,743	648
15	Montana	$40,595	$32,000	1,050,493	87
16	South Dakota	$38,442	$30,000	869,666	112
17	Connecticut	$40,590	$30,000	3,588,184	343
18	Maine	$36,912	$29,000	1,335,907	227
19	Oregon	$39,108	$31,000	4,142,776	528
20	New Mexico	$38,801	$29,000	2,088,070	111
21	Hawaii	$41,111	$34,000	1,427,538	122
22	Alaska	$39,334	$34,000	739,795	113
23	Pennsylvania	$35,662	$26,000	12,805,537	1,849
24	California	$39,210	$29,000	39,536,653	3,091
25	Wyoming	$38,190	$29,000	579,315	29
26	Colorado	$39,125	$30,000	5,607,154	511
27	Rhode Island	$35,578	$27,000	1,059,639	233
28	Utah	$35,360	$27,000	3,101,833	497
29	Maryland	$38,429	$28,000	6,052,177	519
30	Arizona	$36,382	$27,000	7,016,270	633
31	Idaho	$35,835	$28,000	1,716,943	180
32	Louisiana	$36,429	$26,000	4,684,333	210
33	Mississippi	$34,326	$24,000	2,984,100	296
34	Kansas	$34,510	$25,000	2,913,123	437
35	New York	$37,617	$28,000	19,849,399	1,229
36	New Jersey	$35,086	$26,000	9,005,644	1,330
37	Michigan	$33,896	$25,000	9,962,311	1,211
38	Oklahoma	$35,185	$26,000	3,930,864	242
39	Tennessee	$30,915	$22,000	6,715,984	958
40	Kentucky	$29,569	$21,000	4,454,189	740
41	Texas	$33,152	$23,000	28,304,596	2,013
42	North Carolina	$30,743	$22,000	10,273,419	1,415
43	Georgia	$30,860	$22,000	10,429,379	1,400
44	South Carolina	$29,998	$21,000	5,024,369	609
45	District of Columbia	$32,318	$23,000	693,972	175
46	Arkansas	$29,902	$21,000	3,004,279	252
47	Delaware	$32,701	$24,000	961,939	91
48	West Virginia	$29,056	$21,000	1,815,857	142
49	Alabama	$26,476	$19,000	4,874,747	474
50	Florida	$28,828	$20,000	20,984,400	1,412
51	Virginia	$27,134	$19,000	8,470,020	818

Highest paying states for production operators

Rank	State	Avg. Production Operator Salary
1	New Hampshire	$41,114
2	Massachusetts	$42,873
3	Minnesota	$40,782
4	Iowa	$38,804
5	Wisconsin	$38,320
6	Nevada	$40,498
7	North Dakota	$40,411
8	Ohio	$37,155
9	Illinois	$39,170
10	Nebraska	$37,772
11	Indiana	$36,492
12	Vermont	$38,760
13	Missouri	$38,391
14	Washington	$41,610
15	Montana	$40,595
16	South Dakota	$38,442
17	Connecticut	$40,590
18	Maine	$36,912
19	Oregon	$39,108
20	New Mexico	$38,801
21	Hawaii	$41,111
22	Alaska	$39,334
23	Pennsylvania	$35,662
24	California	$39,210
25	Wyoming	$38,190
26	Colorado	$39,125
27	Rhode Island	$35,578
28	Utah	$35,360
29	Maryland	$38,429
30	Arizona	$36,382
31	Idaho	$35,835
32	Louisiana	$36,429
33	Mississippi	$34,326
34	Kansas	$34,510
35	New York	$37,617
36	New Jersey	$35,086
37	Michigan	$33,896
38	Oklahoma	$35,185
39	Tennessee	$30,915
40	Kentucky	$29,569
41	Texas	$33,152
42	North Carolina	$30,743
43	Georgia	$30,860
44	South Carolina	$29,998
45	District of Columbia	$32,318
46	Arkansas	$29,902
47	Delaware	$32,701
48	West Virginia	$29,056
49	Alabama	$26,476
50	Florida	$28,828
51	Virginia	$27,134

Production operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for production operators?

What is the highest paying state for production operators?

What is the worst state for production operators?

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

Search for production operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total production operator jobs:	348
Average annual salary:	$41,114
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$51,000
Location Quotient:	1.49

Best states for a production operator

10 best states for production operators in 2026

1. New Hampshire

2. Massachusetts

3. Minnesota

4. Iowa

5. Wisconsin

6. Nevada

7. North Dakota

8. Ohio

9. Illinois

10. Nebraska