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Terminal operator salary
Average terminal operator salary
$39,948
Average Terminal Operator Salary
The average salary for terminal operators stands at $39,948 per year, or approximately $19 per hour. This figure provides a foundational understanding of what individuals in this profession can expect, but salary can vary widely across different states and industries. For instance, experienced terminal operators in high-demand locations may earn significantly more.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several elements can impact a terminal operator's earnings:
- Experience: Entry-level operators typically earn less than their seasoned counterparts, who often command higher pay.
- Location: Salaries can differ substantially depending on geographic area, with urban centers generally offering higher compensation.
- Industry: Operators in specialized sectors, such as oil and gas, may see better pay compared to those in less niche markets.
Opportunities for Growth
As terminal operators gain experience and possibly pursue certifications, they could move into supervisory or managerial roles, leading to increased earning potential. Continuing education and training can enhance skills, making operators more competitive in the job market.
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Where can a Terminal Operator earn more?
Terminal operator salaries by experience level
Terminal operator salary estimates from across the web
Average terminal operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for terminal operators are Hawaii, North Dakota, and Nebraska. The lowest average terminal operator salary states are North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for terminal operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $47,426 | $22.80 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $47,723 | $22.94 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $48,579 | $23.36 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $44,904 | $21.59 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $47,468 | $22.82 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $49,019 | $23.57 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $43,196 | $20.77 |
| 8 | Kansas | $43,813 | $21.06 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $43,061 | $20.70 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $43,645 | $20.98 |
| 11 | Washington | $47,511 | $22.84 |
| 12 | Oregon | $47,171 | $22.68 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $45,961 | $22.10 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $45,068 | $21.67 |
| 15 | Indiana | $41,298 | $19.85 |
| 16 | Idaho | $44,235 | $21.27 |
| 17 | Ohio | $41,285 | $19.85 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $43,734 | $21.03 |
| 19 | Utah | $42,291 | $20.33 |
| 20 | Missouri | $42,693 | $20.53 |
| 21 | Nevada | $42,459 | $20.41 |
| 22 | Maine | $43,079 | $20.71 |
| 23 | Illinois | $41,720 | $20.06 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $41,658 | $20.03 |
| 25 | New York | $43,856 | $21.08 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $39,193 | $18.84 |
| 27 | Iowa | $39,443 | $18.96 |
| 28 | Arizona | $41,663 | $20.03 |
| 29 | California | $40,998 | $19.71 |
| 30 | Michigan | $39,937 | $19.20 |
| 31 | Texas | $39,164 | $18.83 |
| 32 | Maryland | $42,304 | $20.34 |
| 33 | Colorado | $41,930 | $20.16 |
| 34 | Montana | $40,843 | $19.64 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $40,868 | $19.65 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $41,425 | $19.92 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $35,525 | $17.08 |
| 38 | Delaware | $41,040 | $19.73 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $37,475 | $18.02 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $38,491 | $18.51 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $37,218 | $17.89 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $38,016 | $18.28 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $38,312 | $18.42 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $36,126 | $17.37 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $34,948 | $16.80 |
| 46 | Vermont | $37,553 | $18.05 |
| 47 | Georgia | $33,245 | $15.98 |
| 48 | Virginia | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| 50 | Florida | $36,046 | $17.33 |
| 51 | Alabama | $34,656 | $16.66 |
Highest paying cities for terminal operators
The highest-paying cities for terminal operators are Fargo, ND, Tacoma, WA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $48,591 | $23.36 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $47,489 | $22.83 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $47,259 | $22.72 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $43,076 | $20.71 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $42,463 | $20.41 |
| 6 | Commerce City, CO | $41,955 | $20.17 |
| 7 | Joliet, IL | $41,682 | $20.04 |
| 8 | Elk Grove, CA | $41,462 | $19.93 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $41,144 | $19.78 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $40,892 | $19.66 |
| 11 | Sioux City, IA | $39,703 | $19.09 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $38,912 | $18.71 |
| 13 | Roanoke, VA | $38,079 | $18.31 |
| 14 | North Charleston, SC | $37,009 | $17.79 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $36,139 | $17.37 |
| 16 | Charlotte, NC | $35,995 | $17.31 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $35,452 | $17.04 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $33,435 | $16.07 |
Terminal operator salary details
A terminal operator's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $48,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a terminal operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $39,948 | $3,329 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying terminal operator jobs
The highest paying types of terminal operators are dock worker/forklift operator, mechanical spreader operator, and mill operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forklift Driver | $33,476 | $2,790 | $16.09 | 116,516 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Mechanical Spreader Operator | $42,262 | $3,522 | $20.32 | 60,297 |
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | $36,453 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 168,379 |
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
| Reach Truck Operator | $34,625 | $2,885 | $16.65 | 137,300 |
Top companies hiring terminal operators now:
Which companies pay terminal operators the most?
Terminal operator salaries at Land O'Lakes and Titan America are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average terminal operator salary at companies like Clean Harbors and UGI are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land O'Lakes | $44,332 | $21.31 |
| 2 | Titan America | $44,256 | $21.28 |
| 3 | Clean Harbors | $43,888 | $21.10 |
| 4 | UGI | $43,823 | $21.07 |
| 5 | GCC Dacotha | $43,735 | $21.03 |
| 6 | Railserve | $43,293 | $20.81 |
| 7 | MDU Resources | $43,174 | $20.76 |
| 8 | Gavilon | $43,031 | $20.69 |
| 9 | Buzzi Unicem USA | $42,398 | $20.38 |
| 10 | Matson | $41,884 | $20.14 |
| 11 | Oldcastle Infrastructure | $41,846 | $20.12 |
| 12 | Jurgensen Companies | $41,726 | $20.06 |
| 13 | Colonial Pipeline | $41,709 | $20.05 |
| 14 | Holcim | $41,689 | $20.04 |
| 15 | Peckham Industries | $41,607 | $20.00 |
| 16 | Cargill | $41,471 | $19.94 |
| 17 | Zenith Energy U.S. | $41,394 | $19.90 |
| 18 | Lafarge North America | $41,350 | $19.88 |
| 19 | TransMontaigne Partners LP | $41,326 | $19.87 |
| 20 | IT TECHNOLOGY | $41,300 | $19.86 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Terminal Operator salary by industry
The average terminal operator salary varies across industries:
- The average terminal operator salary in the construction industry is $43,138, the highest of any industry.
- The average terminal operator salary in the finance industry is $41,872.
- Terminal operators in the energy industry earn an average salary of $38,636, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for terminal operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $43,138 | $20.74 |
| 2 | Finance | $41,872 | $20.13 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $41,165 | $19.79 |
| 4 | Technology | $40,774 | $19.60 |
| 5 | Transportation | $40,168 | $19.31 |
| 6 | Energy | $38,636 | $18.57 |
High paying terminal operator jobs
Terminal operator salary trends
The average terminal operator salary has risen by $8,030 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average terminal operator earned $31,918 annually, but today, they earn $39,948 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for terminal operators over the last decade.
Compare terminal operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average terminal operator salary over time
Compare terminal operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Terminal operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,900 | $19.21 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $38,500 | $18.51 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $37,000 | $17.77 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $35,800 | $17.20 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $34,500 | $16.60 | +1.1% |
Recently added terminal operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Harbors | Operator Terminal | Charlotte, NC | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Energy Transfer | Terminal Operator | Pittsburg, CA | 06/27/2025 | $54,262 |
| Corporate Website | Operator Terminal | Ione, CA | 06/25/2025 | $84,649 |
| Holcim | Terminal Operator | Eugene, OR | 06/23/2025 | $49,045 |
| Aurora | Terminal Operator | Houston, TX | 06/21/2025 | $62,610 |
| CRH Plc | Terminal Operator | Beaumont, TX | 06/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| Peopleready | Terminal Operator | Brownsville, TX | 06/20/2025 | $27,131 |
| Suburban Propane | Terminal Operator | Elk Grove, CA | 06/19/2025 | $53,219 |
| CRH Plc | Terminal Operator | Alexandria, LA | 06/12/2025 | $41,740 |
| CRH Plc | Terminal Operator | North Little Rock, AR | 06/12/2025 | $41,740 |
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