Best states for a terminal operator

Q: What is the best state for terminal operators?

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

Q: What is the highest paying state for terminal operators?

The highest paying state for terminal operators is Georgia based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for terminal operators?

The worst state for terminal 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

Job opportunities vary from state to state, and transportation careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to terminal operator jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for terminal operators.In order to help you decide which state is the best for terminal operators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for terminal operator jobs.

We figured that the best places for terminal 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.Alaska is the best state, and Mililani Town is the city with the highest pay for terminal operators.

10 best states for terminal operators in 2025

1. Alaska
Total terminal operator jobs: 96
Average annual salary: $47,426
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
3.17
Terminal operator jobs in Alaska
2. Nebraska
Total terminal operator jobs: 67
Average annual salary: $47,723
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
0.83
Terminal operator jobs in Nebraska
3. North Dakota
Total terminal operator jobs: 27
Average annual salary: $48,579
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.8
Terminal operator jobs in North Dakota
4. Wisconsin
Total terminal operator jobs: 199
Average annual salary: $44,904
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Terminal operator jobs in Wisconsin
5. Minnesota
Total terminal operator jobs: 187
Average annual salary: $47,468
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.78
Terminal operator jobs in Minnesota
6. Hawaii
Total terminal operator jobs: 95
Average annual salary: $49,019
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
3.13
Terminal operator jobs in Hawaii
7. Pennsylvania
Total terminal operator jobs: 521
Average annual salary: $43,196
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Terminal operator jobs in Pennsylvania
8. Kansas
Total terminal operator jobs: 103
Average annual salary: $43,813
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Terminal operator jobs in Kansas
9. Rhode Island
Total terminal operator jobs: 155
Average annual salary: $43,061
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
3.52
Terminal operator jobs in Rhode Island
10. Massachusetts
Total terminal operator jobs: 1,224
Average annual salary: $43,645
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
3.68
Terminal operator jobs in Massachusetts

Terminal operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a terminal operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a terminal operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$47,426	$43,000	739,795	96
2	Nebraska	$47,723	$40,000	1,920,076	67
3	North Dakota	$48,579	$42,000	755,393	27
4	Wisconsin	$44,904	$38,000	5,795,483	199
5	Minnesota	$47,468	$40,000	5,576,606	187
6	Hawaii	$49,019	$42,000	1,427,538	95
7	Pennsylvania	$43,196	$35,000	12,805,537	521
8	Kansas	$43,813	$36,000	2,913,123	103
9	Rhode Island	$43,061	$36,000	1,059,639	155
10	Massachusetts	$43,645	$37,000	6,859,819	1,224
11	Washington	$47,511	$41,000	7,405,743	162
12	Oregon	$47,171	$40,000	4,142,776	70
13	Wyoming	$45,961	$38,000	579,315	5
14	District of Columbia	$45,068	$37,000	693,972	130
15	Indiana	$41,298	$34,000	6,666,818	307
16	Idaho	$44,235	$37,000	1,716,943	27
17	Ohio	$41,285	$34,000	11,658,609	358
18	South Dakota	$43,734	$37,000	869,666	12
19	Utah	$42,291	$35,000	3,101,833	104
20	Missouri	$42,693	$35,000	6,113,532	170
21	Nevada	$42,459	$34,000	2,998,039	49
22	Maine	$43,079	$37,000	1,335,907	31
23	Illinois	$41,720	$35,000	12,802,023	421
24	New Jersey	$41,658	$34,000	9,005,644	895
25	New York	$43,856	$36,000	19,849,399	217
26	Kentucky	$39,193	$32,000	4,454,189	164
27	Iowa	$39,443	$33,000	3,145,711	137
28	Arizona	$41,663	$33,000	7,016,270	128
29	California	$40,998	$33,000	39,536,653	902
30	Michigan	$39,937	$33,000	9,962,311	133
31	Texas	$39,164	$31,000	28,304,596	598
32	Maryland	$42,304	$34,000	6,052,177	105
33	Colorado	$41,930	$34,000	5,607,154	91
34	Montana	$40,843	$35,000	1,050,493	12
35	New Mexico	$40,868	$33,000	2,088,070	14
36	Connecticut	$41,425	$34,000	3,588,184	54
37	Tennessee	$35,525	$29,000	6,715,984	310
38	Delaware	$41,040	$33,000	961,939	20
39	South Carolina	$37,475	$30,000	5,024,369	158
40	Louisiana	$38,491	$31,000	4,684,333	66
41	Arkansas	$37,218	$30,000	3,004,279	68
42	New Hampshire	$38,016	$32,000	1,342,795	51
43	West Virginia	$38,312	$31,000	1,815,857	21
44	North Carolina	$36,126	$29,000	10,273,419	333
45	Mississippi	$34,948	$28,000	2,984,100	87
46	Vermont	$37,553	$32,000	623,657	21
47	Georgia	$33,245	$27,000	10,429,379	507
48	Virginia	$38,230	$31,000	8,470,020	177
49	Oklahoma	$36,590	$30,000	3,930,864	45
50	Florida	$36,046	$29,000	20,984,400	404
51	Alabama	$34,656	$28,000	4,874,747	106

Highest paying states for terminal operators

Rank	State	Avg. Terminal Operator Salary
1	Alaska	$47,426
2	Nebraska	$47,723
3	North Dakota	$48,579
4	Wisconsin	$44,904
5	Minnesota	$47,468
6	Hawaii	$49,019
7	Pennsylvania	$43,196
8	Kansas	$43,813
9	Rhode Island	$43,061
10	Massachusetts	$43,645
11	Washington	$47,511
12	Oregon	$47,171
13	Wyoming	$45,961
14	District of Columbia	$45,068
15	Indiana	$41,298
16	Idaho	$44,235
17	Ohio	$41,285
18	South Dakota	$43,734
19	Utah	$42,291
20	Missouri	$42,693
21	Nevada	$42,459
22	Maine	$43,079
23	Illinois	$41,720
24	New Jersey	$41,658
25	New York	$43,856
26	Kentucky	$39,193
27	Iowa	$39,443
28	Arizona	$41,663
29	California	$40,998
30	Michigan	$39,937
31	Texas	$39,164
32	Maryland	$42,304
33	Colorado	$41,930
34	Montana	$40,843
35	New Mexico	$40,868
36	Connecticut	$41,425
37	Tennessee	$35,525
38	Delaware	$41,040
39	South Carolina	$37,475
40	Louisiana	$38,491
41	Arkansas	$37,218
42	New Hampshire	$38,016
43	West Virginia	$38,312
44	North Carolina	$36,126
45	Mississippi	$34,948
46	Vermont	$37,553
47	Georgia	$33,245
48	Virginia	$38,230
49	Oklahoma	$36,590
50	Florida	$36,046
51	Alabama	$34,656

Terminal operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for terminal operators?

What is the highest paying state for terminal operators?

What is the worst state for terminal operators?

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

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Transportation Industry
Terminal Operator
Best states for Terminal Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs

Total terminal operator jobs:	96
Average annual salary:	$47,426
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$43,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$51,000
Location Quotient:	3.17

Best states for a terminal operator

10 best states for terminal operators in 2025

1. Alaska

2. Nebraska

3. North Dakota

4. Wisconsin

5. Minnesota

6. Hawaii

7. Pennsylvania

8. Kansas

9. Rhode Island

10. Massachusetts