Best states for a special equipment operator

Q: What is the best state for special equipment operators?

The best state to be a special equipment operator is Rhode Island based on special equipment operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for special equipment operators?

The highest paying state for special equipment operators is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for special equipment operators?

The worst state for special equipment operators is Florida, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for special equipment operators? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for special equipment 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.We wanted to look at the best states for special equipment operators -- where there are plenty of special equipment operator jobs to go around and special equipment operators get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

We figured that the best places for special equipment operator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for special equipment operators, and the Northeast is the worst. Goodyear, AZ is the best city in the country for special equipment operator jobs, where as Rhode Island is the best state in the country.

10 best states for special equipment operators in 2025

1. Rhode Island
Total special equipment operator jobs: 197
Average annual salary: $51,132
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
2.3
Special equipment operator jobs in Rhode Island
2. Wyoming
Total special equipment operator jobs: 65
Average annual salary: $49,582
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
1.54
Special equipment operator jobs in Wyoming
3. Massachusetts
Total special equipment operator jobs: 1,533
Average annual salary: $50,858
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Location Quotient:
2.37
Special equipment operator jobs in Massachusetts
4. Alaska
Total special equipment operator jobs: 160
Average annual salary: $52,350
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
2.72
Special equipment operator jobs in Alaska
5. Vermont
Total special equipment operator jobs: 82
Average annual salary: $50,016
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.52
Special equipment operator jobs in Vermont
6. New Hampshire
Total special equipment operator jobs: 131
Average annual salary: $50,578
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Special equipment operator jobs in New Hampshire
7. Montana
Total special equipment operator jobs: 207
Average annual salary: $47,395
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
2.55
Special equipment operator jobs in Montana
8. Maine
Total special equipment operator jobs: 104
Average annual salary: $49,213
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Special equipment operator jobs in Maine
9. Arizona
Total special equipment operator jobs: 521
Average annual salary: $49,099
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Special equipment operator jobs in Arizona
10. Connecticut
Total special equipment operator jobs: 230
Average annual salary: $50,968
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Special equipment operator jobs in Connecticut

Special equipment operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a special equipment operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a special equipment operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$51,132	$37,000	1,059,639	197
2	Wyoming	$49,582	$38,000	579,315	65
3	Massachusetts	$50,858	$37,000	6,859,819	1,533
4	Alaska	$52,350	$45,000	739,795	160
5	Vermont	$50,016	$37,000	623,657	82
6	New Hampshire	$50,578	$37,000	1,342,795	131
7	Montana	$47,395	$37,000	1,050,493	207
8	Maine	$49,213	$37,000	1,335,907	104
9	Arizona	$49,099	$36,000	7,016,270	521
10	Connecticut	$50,968	$37,000	3,588,184	230
11	North Dakota	$47,468	$37,000	755,393	68
12	Idaho	$46,879	$36,000	1,716,943	164
13	Ohio	$45,908	$33,000	11,658,609	902
14	Wisconsin	$47,101	$35,000	5,795,483	415
15	Utah	$45,709	$34,000	3,101,833	318
16	Oregon	$47,688	$36,000	4,142,776	352
17	Nebraska	$44,939	$34,000	1,920,076	270
18	Washington	$48,802	$37,000	7,405,743	479
19	South Dakota	$46,610	$35,000	869,666	62
20	Nevada	$47,150	$34,000	2,998,039	137
21	Michigan	$45,290	$33,000	9,962,311	619
22	Delaware	$48,648	$35,000	961,939	70
23	New Jersey	$45,803	$33,000	9,005,644	1,068
24	Indiana	$45,404	$34,000	6,666,818	415
25	New York	$49,794	$36,000	19,849,399	597
26	District of Columbia	$46,697	$33,000	693,972	186
27	Kentucky	$42,407	$31,000	4,454,189	604
28	Virginia	$48,355	$35,000	8,470,020	347
29	Missouri	$43,486	$33,000	6,113,532	572
30	West Virginia	$44,146	$32,000	1,815,857	103
31	Maryland	$47,272	$34,000	6,052,177	351
32	California	$47,447	$34,000	39,536,653	1,415
33	North Carolina	$44,781	$33,000	10,273,419	434
34	Illinois	$44,688	$33,000	12,802,023	768
35	Iowa	$41,811	$31,000	3,145,711	276
36	Oklahoma	$40,133	$30,000	3,930,864	291
37	Colorado	$43,468	$33,000	5,607,154	386
38	Arkansas	$39,170	$29,000	3,004,279	237
39	Minnesota	$43,572	$33,000	5,576,606	320
40	Hawaii	$37,727	$31,000	1,427,538	147
41	Mississippi	$39,914	$30,000	2,984,100	166
42	Kansas	$41,985	$31,000	2,913,123	160
43	New Mexico	$38,706	$29,000	2,088,070	170
44	Tennessee	$38,892	$29,000	6,715,984	383
45	Louisiana	$40,286	$30,000	4,684,333	191
46	Pennsylvania	$36,835	$26,000	12,805,537	1,012
47	South Carolina	$32,049	$24,000	5,024,369	361
48	Alabama	$36,245	$27,000	4,874,747	197
49	Texas	$36,408	$27,000	28,304,596	895
50	Georgia	$36,843	$27,000	10,429,379	422
51	Florida	$36,056	$27,000	20,984,400	549

Highest paying states for special equipment operators

Rank	State	Avg. Special Equipment Operator Salary
1	Rhode Island	$51,132
2	Wyoming	$49,582
3	Massachusetts	$50,858
4	Alaska	$52,350
5	Vermont	$50,016
6	New Hampshire	$50,578
7	Montana	$47,395
8	Maine	$49,213
9	Arizona	$49,099
10	Connecticut	$50,968
11	North Dakota	$47,468
12	Idaho	$46,879
13	Ohio	$45,908
14	Wisconsin	$47,101
15	Utah	$45,709
16	Oregon	$47,688
17	Nebraska	$44,939
18	Washington	$48,802
19	South Dakota	$46,610
20	Nevada	$47,150
21	Michigan	$45,290
22	Delaware	$48,648
23	New Jersey	$45,803
24	Indiana	$45,404
25	New York	$49,794
26	District of Columbia	$46,697
27	Kentucky	$42,407
28	Virginia	$48,355
29	Missouri	$43,486
30	West Virginia	$44,146
31	Maryland	$47,272
32	California	$47,447
33	North Carolina	$44,781
34	Illinois	$44,688
35	Iowa	$41,811
36	Oklahoma	$40,133
37	Colorado	$43,468
38	Arkansas	$39,170
39	Minnesota	$43,572
40	Hawaii	$37,727
41	Mississippi	$39,914
42	Kansas	$41,985
43	New Mexico	$38,706
44	Tennessee	$38,892
45	Louisiana	$40,286
46	Pennsylvania	$36,835
47	South Carolina	$32,049
48	Alabama	$36,245
49	Texas	$36,408
50	Georgia	$36,843
51	Florida	$36,056

Special equipment operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for special equipment operators?

What is the highest paying state for special equipment operators?

What is the worst state for special equipment operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common construction and extraction questions.

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Special Equipment Operator
Best states for Special Equipment Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total special equipment operator jobs:	197
Average annual salary:	$51,132
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$37,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$70,000
Location Quotient:	2.3

Best states for a special equipment operator

10 best states for special equipment operators in 2025

1. Rhode Island

2. Wyoming

3. Massachusetts

4. Alaska

5. Vermont

6. New Hampshire

7. Montana

8. Maine

9. Arizona

10. Connecticut