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The average salary for a Receiving Operator in the United States is approximately $40,484 annually, translating to about $19 per hour. This figure varies based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry.
Different states offer varying salaries for receiving operators. For instance, states with higher living costs often provide better compensation. The highest paying states typically include:
In addition to state variations, urban areas generally have higher pay rates. Cities like San Francisco and New York City are known for offering competitive salaries.
Experience also plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level operators may start at lower wages, while those with several years of experience can expect significantly higher pay, reflecting their expertise and reliability.
In conclusion, a career as a receiving operator not only offers a stable income but also potential for growth as demand in logistics continues to increase.
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The highest-paying states for receiving operators are Colorado, Hawaii, and North Dakota. The lowest average receiving operator salary states are Oklahoma, Vermont, and Tennessee.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $48,143 | $23.15 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $51,737 | $24.87 |
| 3 | Arkansas | $45,617 | $21.93 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $51,326 | $24.68 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $48,552 | $23.34 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $44,268 | $21.28 |
| 7 | Iowa | $44,084 | $21.19 |
| 8 | Colorado | $51,741 | $24.88 |
| 9 | Maryland | $46,892 | $22.54 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $44,014 | $21.16 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $43,336 | $20.83 |
| 12 | Indiana | $43,198 | $20.77 |
| 13 | Utah | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| 14 | Illinois | $44,569 | $21.43 |
| 15 | Arizona | $45,154 | $21.71 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $46,528 | $22.37 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $46,915 | $22.56 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $43,823 | $21.07 |
| 19 | New York | $48,265 | $23.20 |
| 20 | Ohio | $42,135 | $20.26 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $44,434 | $21.36 |
| 22 | Nevada | $43,863 | $21.09 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $43,669 | $20.99 |
| 24 | Missouri | $42,924 | $20.64 |
| 25 | California | $44,208 | $21.25 |
| 26 | Montana | $44,142 | $21.22 |
| 27 | Washington | $43,673 | $21.00 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $42,320 | $20.35 |
| 29 | Kansas | $42,010 | $20.20 |
| 30 | Michigan | $41,892 | $20.14 |
| 31 | Idaho | $42,444 | $20.41 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $38,861 | $18.68 |
| 33 | Oregon | $42,837 | $20.59 |
| 34 | Texas | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $39,084 | $18.79 |
| 36 | Georgia | $38,940 | $18.72 |
| 37 | Delaware | $42,272 | $20.32 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $42,062 | $20.22 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $41,806 | $20.10 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $36,984 | $17.78 |
| 41 | Maine | $40,806 | $19.62 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $39,459 | $18.97 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $38,184 | $18.36 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 45 | Vermont | $37,718 | $18.13 |
| 46 | Florida | $36,144 | $17.38 |
| 47 | Virginia | $38,079 | $18.31 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $37,935 | $18.24 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $37,913 | $18.23 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $33,826 | $16.26 |
| 51 | Alabama | $36,098 | $17.35 |
The highest-paying cities for receiving operators are Denver, CO, Fargo, ND, and Fremont, NE.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $51,741 | $24.88 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $51,299 | $24.66 |
| 3 | Fremont, NE | $48,647 | $23.39 |
| 4 | Springdale, AR | $46,337 | $22.28 |
| 5 | Wausau, WI | $44,614 | $21.45 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $44,365 | $21.33 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $44,274 | $21.29 |
| 8 | Allentown, PA | $44,246 | $21.27 |
| 9 | Chaska, MN | $43,645 | $20.98 |
| 10 | OFallon, IL | $43,322 | $20.83 |
| 11 | Plainfield, IN | $43,064 | $20.70 |
| 12 | Meridian, ID | $42,502 | $20.43 |
| 13 | Plainfield, NJ | $42,400 | $20.38 |
| 14 | Round Rock, TX | $40,185 | $19.32 |
| 15 | Shreveport, LA | $38,359 | $18.44 |
| 16 | Largo, FL | $36,314 | $17.46 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $33,911 | $16.30 |
A receiving operator's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $40,484 | $3,374 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
The highest paying types of receiving operators are dock worker/forklift operator, mechanical spreader operator, and terminal operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | $36,453 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 168,379 |
| Shipping And Receiving Clerk | $33,438 | $2,787 | $16.08 | 224,166 |
| Mechanical Spreader Operator | $42,262 | $3,522 | $20.32 | 60,297 |
| Lift Truck Operator | $36,973 | $3,081 | $17.78 | 103,337 |
| Forklift Operator | $34,213 | $2,851 | $16.45 | 213,020 |
Top companies hiring receiving operators now:
Receiving operator salaries at Blue Diamond Growers and Steel Dynamics are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average receiving operator salary at companies like Kemps and Dairy Farmers of America are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Diamond Growers | $51,791 | $24.90 |
| 2 | Steel Dynamics | $48,350 | $23.25 |
| 3 | Kemps | $48,123 | $23.14 |
| 4 | Dairy Farmers of America | $47,291 | $22.74 |
| 5 | Prairie Farms Dairy | $46,749 | $22.48 |
| 6 | Apex International Mfg | $44,937 | $21.60 |
| 7 | Mars | $43,786 | $21.05 |
| 8 | Beam Suntory | $43,722 | $21.02 |
| 9 | Land O'Lakes | $43,650 | $20.99 |
| 10 | Chobani | $43,128 | $20.73 |
| 11 | Siemens | $43,039 | $20.69 |
| 12 | Behr Holdings Corporation | $42,191 | $20.28 |
| 13 | Axalta | $41,883 | $20.14 |
| 14 | Cass-Clay® Creamery | $41,648 | $20.02 |
| 15 | Cargill | $41,616 | $20.01 |
| 16 | Barry Callebaut Group | $41,370 | $19.89 |
| 17 | Enviva | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| 18 | Masco | $41,327 | $19.87 |
| 19 | Kerry Holding Co. | $41,235 | $19.82 |
| 20 | Badger Daylighting | $41,139 | $19.78 |
The average receiving operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $42,043 | $20.21 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $42,042 | $20.21 |
| 3 | Agriculture | $41,961 | $20.17 |
| 4 | Finance | $41,628 | $20.01 |
| 5 | Health Care | $41,211 | $19.81 |
| 6 | Construction | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| 7 | Manufacturing | $39,827 | $19.15 |
The average receiving operator salary has risen by $8,138 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average receiving operator earned $32,346 annually, but today, they earn $40,484 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for receiving operators over the last decade.
Compare receiving operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare receiving operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,500 | $19.46 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $39,000 | $18.76 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $37,500 | $18.01 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $36,200 | $17.43 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $35,000 | $16.82 | +1.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Dairy Facilities Southwest LLC | Receiving Operator (Night Shift) | Coopersville, MI | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Chobani | Milk Receiving Operator I (Grade 5) A Shift AM To PM, Every Other Weekend Required) | Twin Falls, ID | 06/28/2025 | $48,523 |
| Land O Lakes | Receiving Operator | Carlisle, PA | 06/28/2025 | $55,619 |
| McCain | Receiving Operator | Burley, ID | 06/25/2025 | $44,161 |
| McCain Foods | Receiving Operator | Burley, ID | 06/24/2025 | $44,161 |
| Darigold | Milk Receiving Operator | Sunnyside, WA | 06/19/2025 | $42,721 |
| Agropur Inc. | Receiving Operator | Le Sueur, MN | 06/09/2025 | $44,307 |
| Staffmark Group | Inbound Receivable Operator | Marietta, GA | 06/06/2025 | $35,479 |
| International Flavors & Fragrances | Receiving Operator I | South Brunswick, NJ | 06/03/2025 | $34,800 |
| Masco Corp | Receiving Operator, 3Rd Shift | McDonough, GA | 05/28/2025 | $40,697 |
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