Best states for a reach truck operator

Q: What is the best state for reach truck operators?

The best state to be a reach truck operator is Alaska based on reach truck operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for reach truck operators?

The highest paying state for reach truck operators is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for reach truck operators?

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

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for reach truck operators.We found that the South is best for reach truck operators, and the Midwest is the worst. Philadelphia, PA is the best city in the country for reach truck operator jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.

10 best states for reach truck operators in 2025

1. Alaska
Total reach truck operator jobs: 114
Average annual salary: $44,131
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
1.43
Reach truck operator jobs in Alaska
2. North Dakota
Total reach truck operator jobs: 53
Average annual salary: $41,665
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
0.6
Reach truck operator jobs in North Dakota
3. Washington
Total reach truck operator jobs: 1,349
Average annual salary: $37,890
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.93
Reach truck operator jobs in Washington
4. Massachusetts
Total reach truck operator jobs: 1,109
Average annual salary: $37,912
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Reach truck operator jobs in Massachusetts
5. Iowa
Total reach truck operator jobs: 228
Average annual salary: $38,108
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
0.66
Reach truck operator jobs in Iowa
6. Rhode Island
Total reach truck operator jobs: 145
Average annual salary: $37,230
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Reach truck operator jobs in Rhode Island
7. Minnesota
Total reach truck operator jobs: 320
Average annual salary: $40,381
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.5
Reach truck operator jobs in Minnesota
8. Maine
Total reach truck operator jobs: 63
Average annual salary: $39,321
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
0.5
Reach truck operator jobs in Maine
9. Wyoming
Total reach truck operator jobs: 31
Average annual salary: $38,103
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
0.54
Reach truck operator jobs in Wyoming
10. Pennsylvania
Total reach truck operator jobs: 676
Average annual salary: $37,459
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
0.61
Reach truck operator jobs in Pennsylvania

Reach truck operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a reach truck operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a reach truck operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$44,131	$38,000	739,795	114
2	North Dakota	$41,665	$34,000	755,393	53
3	Washington	$37,890	$30,000	7,405,743	1,349
4	Massachusetts	$37,912	$31,000	6,859,819	1,109
5	Iowa	$38,108	$31,000	3,145,711	228
6	Rhode Island	$37,230	$30,000	1,059,639	145
7	Minnesota	$40,381	$32,000	5,576,606	320
8	Maine	$39,321	$32,000	1,335,907	63
9	Wyoming	$38,103	$31,000	579,315	31
10	Pennsylvania	$37,459	$30,000	12,805,537	676
11	Hawaii	$38,953	$32,000	1,427,538	102
12	Kansas	$36,151	$29,000	2,913,123	221
13	Colorado	$36,424	$29,000	5,607,154	1,024
14	Oregon	$39,710	$32,000	4,142,776	126
15	Ohio	$35,499	$28,000	11,658,609	1,198
16	South Dakota	$36,639	$29,000	869,666	52
17	Illinois	$35,817	$29,000	12,802,023	1,411
18	District of Columbia	$39,243	$31,000	693,972	146
19	Arizona	$34,776	$28,000	7,016,270	879
20	Idaho	$37,061	$30,000	1,716,943	66
21	Maryland	$36,766	$29,000	6,052,177	901
22	Indiana	$35,329	$28,000	6,666,818	542
23	Michigan	$35,832	$29,000	9,962,311	328
24	New Jersey	$35,871	$29,000	9,005,644	828
25	California	$35,428	$28,000	39,536,653	4,841
26	Nevada	$35,995	$29,000	2,998,039	74
27	Kentucky	$33,761	$27,000	4,454,189	376
28	Delaware	$35,645	$28,000	961,939	80
29	New York	$37,735	$30,000	19,849,399	308
30	South Carolina	$33,470	$27,000	5,024,369	567
31	Wisconsin	$33,932	$27,000	5,795,483	410
32	Utah	$35,176	$28,000	3,101,833	143
33	West Virginia	$32,850	$26,000	1,815,857	134
34	Missouri	$34,341	$28,000	6,113,532	365
35	Tennessee	$32,097	$26,000	6,715,984	570
36	Nebraska	$33,489	$27,000	1,920,076	141
37	Montana	$34,516	$28,000	1,050,493	41
38	Louisiana	$33,376	$26,000	4,684,333	216
39	Georgia	$32,607	$26,000	10,429,379	1,248
40	New Mexico	$33,907	$27,000	2,088,070	70
41	Connecticut	$35,697	$28,000	3,588,184	116
42	Florida	$31,643	$25,000	20,984,400	2,439
43	Arkansas	$31,620	$25,000	3,004,279	251
44	Vermont	$32,935	$27,000	623,657	52
45	Mississippi	$30,453	$24,000	2,984,100	253
46	Texas	$32,244	$26,000	28,304,596	1,202
47	New Hampshire	$33,169	$27,000	1,342,795	55
48	Virginia	$33,456	$27,000	8,470,020	371
49	North Carolina	$31,794	$26,000	10,273,419	567
50	Oklahoma	$30,747	$25,000	3,930,864	230
51	Alabama	$30,462	$24,000	4,874,747	298

Highest paying states for reach truck operators

Rank	State	Avg. Reach Truck Operator Salary
1	Alaska	$44,131
2	North Dakota	$41,665
3	Washington	$37,890
4	Massachusetts	$37,912
5	Iowa	$38,108
6	Rhode Island	$37,230
7	Minnesota	$40,381
8	Maine	$39,321
9	Wyoming	$38,103
10	Pennsylvania	$37,459
11	Hawaii	$38,953
12	Kansas	$36,151
13	Colorado	$36,424
14	Oregon	$39,710
15	Ohio	$35,499
16	South Dakota	$36,639
17	Illinois	$35,817
18	District of Columbia	$39,243
19	Arizona	$34,776
20	Idaho	$37,061
21	Maryland	$36,766
22	Indiana	$35,329
23	Michigan	$35,832
24	New Jersey	$35,871
25	California	$35,428
26	Nevada	$35,995
27	Kentucky	$33,761
28	Delaware	$35,645
29	New York	$37,735
30	South Carolina	$33,470
31	Wisconsin	$33,932
32	Utah	$35,176
33	West Virginia	$32,850
34	Missouri	$34,341
35	Tennessee	$32,097
36	Nebraska	$33,489
37	Montana	$34,516
38	Louisiana	$33,376
39	Georgia	$32,607
40	New Mexico	$33,907
41	Connecticut	$35,697
42	Florida	$31,643
43	Arkansas	$31,620
44	Vermont	$32,935
45	Mississippi	$30,453
46	Texas	$32,244
47	New Hampshire	$33,169
48	Virginia	$33,456
49	North Carolina	$31,794
50	Oklahoma	$30,747
51	Alabama	$30,462

Reach truck operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for reach truck operators?

What is the highest paying state for reach truck operators?

What is the worst state for reach truck operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.

Search for reach truck operator jobs

Zippia Careers
Transportation Industry
Reach Truck Operator
Best states for Reach Truck Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs

Total reach truck operator jobs:	114
Average annual salary:	$44,131
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$38,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$50,000
Location Quotient:	1.43

Best states for a reach truck operator

10 best states for reach truck operators in 2025

1. Alaska

2. North Dakota

3. Washington

4. Massachusetts

5. Iowa

6. Rhode Island

7. Minnesota

8. Maine

9. Wyoming

10. Pennsylvania