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Receiving operator salary

Average receiving operator salary

$40,484

$19.46 hourly rate

Entry-level receiving operator salary
$33,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Understanding Receiving Operator Salaries

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.

Salary by State

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:

  • California
  • New York
  • Texas

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 Levels Matter

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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Where can a Receiving Operator earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
64k
44k
24k
4k
Columbus, OH$51,741
Raleigh, NC$33,911
Compare salary by company
Vs
71k
51k
31k
11k
Blue Diamond Growers$51,791
Badger Daylighting$41,139

Receiving operator salaries by experience level

Average receiving operator salary by state

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.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for receiving operators

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Alaska$48,143$23.15
2Hawaii$51,737$24.87
3Arkansas$45,617$21.93
4North Dakota$51,326$24.68
5Nebraska$48,552$23.34
6Wisconsin$44,268$21.28
7Iowa$44,084$21.19
8Colorado$51,741$24.88
9Maryland$46,892$22.54
10Pennsylvania$44,014$21.16
11Rhode Island$43,336$20.83
12Indiana$43,198$20.77
13Utah$43,350$20.84
14Illinois$44,569$21.43
15Arizona$45,154$21.71
16District of Columbia$46,528$22.37
17Wyoming$46,915$22.56
18Massachusetts$43,823$21.07
19New York$48,265$23.20
20Ohio$42,135$20.26
21South Dakota$44,434$21.36
22Nevada$43,863$21.09
23Minnesota$43,669$20.99
24Missouri$42,924$20.64
25California$44,208$21.25
26Montana$44,142$21.22
27Washington$43,673$21.00
28New Jersey$42,320$20.35
29Kansas$42,010$20.20
30Michigan$41,892$20.14
31Idaho$42,444$20.41
32Kentucky$38,861$18.68
33Oregon$42,837$20.59
34Texas$40,230$19.34
35Mississippi$39,084$18.79
36Georgia$38,940$18.72
37Delaware$42,272$20.32
38New Mexico$42,062$20.22
39Connecticut$41,806$20.10
40Tennessee$36,984$17.78
41Maine$40,806$19.62
42West Virginia$39,459$18.97
43South Carolina$38,184$18.36
44New Hampshire$39,110$18.80
45Vermont$37,718$18.13
46Florida$36,144$17.38
47Virginia$38,079$18.31
48Louisiana$37,935$18.24
49Oklahoma$37,913$18.23
50North Carolina$33,826$16.26
51Alabama$36,098$17.35

Highest paying cities for receiving operators

The highest-paying cities for receiving operators are Denver, CO, Fargo, ND, and Fremont, NE.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Denver, CO$51,741$24.88
2Fargo, ND$51,299$24.66
3Fremont, NE$48,647$23.39
4Springdale, AR$46,337$22.28
5Wausau, WI$44,614$21.45
6Reno, NV$44,365$21.33
7Bakersfield, CA$44,274$21.29
8Allentown, PA$44,246$21.27
9Chaska, MN$43,645$20.98
10OFallon, IL$43,322$20.83
11Plainfield, IN$43,064$20.70
12Meridian, ID$42,502$20.43
13Plainfield, NJ$42,400$20.38
14Round Rock, TX$40,185$19.32
15Shreveport, LA$38,359$18.44
16Largo, FL$36,314$17.46
17Raleigh, NC$33,911$16.30

Receiving operator salary details

A receiving operator's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average receiving operator salary graph
Average receiving operator salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a receiving operator's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly 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

Highest paying receiving operator jobs

The highest paying types of receiving operators are dock worker/forklift operator, mechanical spreader operator, and terminal operator.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Machine Operator/Forklift Operator$32,452$2,704$15.60120,073
Material Handler/Forklift Operator$36,453$3,038$17.53168,379
Shipping And Receiving Clerk$33,438$2,787$16.08224,166
Mechanical Spreader Operator$42,262$3,522$20.3260,297
Lift Truck Operator$36,973$3,081$17.78103,337
Forklift Operator$34,213$2,851$16.45213,020

Top companies hiring receiving operators now:

  1. Dairy Farmers of America jobs (5)
  2. Arrow Electronics jobs (6)
  3. Land O'Lakes jobs (5)
  4. Cargill jobs (7)
  5. Masco jobs (4)

Which companies pay receiving operators the most?

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.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1Blue Diamond Growers$51,791$24.90
2Steel Dynamics$48,350$23.25
3Kemps$48,123$23.14
4Dairy Farmers of America$47,291$22.74
5Prairie Farms Dairy$46,749$22.48
6Apex International Mfg$44,937$21.60
7Mars$43,786$21.05
8Beam Suntory$43,722$21.02
9Land O'Lakes$43,650$20.99
10Chobani$43,128$20.73
11Siemens$43,039$20.69
12Behr Holdings Corporation$42,191$20.28
13Axalta$41,883$20.14
14Cass-Clay® Creamery$41,648$20.02
15Cargill$41,616$20.01
16Barry Callebaut Group$41,370$19.89
17Enviva$41,340$19.88
18Masco$41,327$19.87
19Kerry Holding Co.$41,235$19.82
20Badger Daylighting$41,139$19.78

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$41,000$40,800$40,600$40,400$40,200$40,000
MaleFemale

Receiving Operator salary by industry

The average receiving operator salary varies across industries:

  • The average receiving operator salary in the automotive industry is $42,043, the highest of any industry.
  • The average receiving operator salary in the finance industry is $42,042.
  • Receiving operators in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $39,827, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for receiving operators

RankIndustryAverage salaryHourly rate
1Automotive$42,043$20.21
2Hospitality$42,042$20.21
3Agriculture$41,961$20.17
4Finance$41,628$20.01
5Health Care$41,211$19.81
6Construction$39,870$19.17
7Manufacturing$39,827$19.15

High paying receiving operator jobs

Receiving operator salary trends

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.

Average receiving operator salary over time

Compare receiving operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Receiving operator salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly 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%

Recently added receiving operator salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Continental Dairy Facilities Southwest LLCReceiving Operator (Night Shift)Coopersville, MI06/29/2025$52,175
ChobaniMilk Receiving Operator I (Grade 5) A Shift AM To PM, Every Other Weekend Required)Twin Falls, ID06/28/2025$48,523
Land O LakesReceiving OperatorCarlisle, PA06/28/2025$55,619
McCainReceiving OperatorBurley, ID06/25/2025$44,161
McCain FoodsReceiving OperatorBurley, ID06/24/2025$44,161
DarigoldMilk Receiving OperatorSunnyside, WA06/19/2025$42,721
Agropur Inc.Receiving OperatorLe Sueur, MN06/09/2025$44,307
Staffmark GroupInbound Receivable OperatorMarietta, GA06/06/2025$35,479
International Flavors & FragrancesReceiving Operator ISouth Brunswick, NJ06/03/2025$34,800
Masco CorpReceiving Operator, 3Rd ShiftMcDonough, GA05/28/2025$40,697

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