Best states for a tractor operator

Q: What is the best state for tractor operators?

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

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

The highest paying state for tractor operators is Tennessee based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for tractor operators?

The worst state for tractor operators is Oklahoma, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for tractor operators in the United States. Tractor operator positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for tractor operators.As tractor operators are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for tractor operators. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a tractor operator, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

Alaska is the best state for jobs for tractor operators, and Oklahoma is the worst. The most common pay in Alaska is $39,660, while the median pay in Oklahoma is $29,029.If you are currently seeking employment as a tractor operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for tractor operators in 2025

1. Alaska
Total tractor operator jobs: 95
Average annual salary: $39,660
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
2.55
Tractor operator jobs in Alaska
2. Iowa
Total tractor operator jobs: 180
Average annual salary: $35,766
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Tractor operator jobs in Iowa
3. North Dakota
Total tractor operator jobs: 33
Average annual salary: $39,044
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
0.8
Tractor operator jobs in North Dakota
4. Nebraska
Total tractor operator jobs: 85
Average annual salary: $37,533
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Tractor operator jobs in Nebraska
5. Rhode Island
Total tractor operator jobs: 150
Average annual salary: $34,690
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
2.77
Tractor operator jobs in Rhode Island
6. Illinois
Total tractor operator jobs: 473
Average annual salary: $36,440
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Tractor operator jobs in Illinois
7. Idaho
Total tractor operator jobs: 76
Average annual salary: $35,499
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Tractor operator jobs in Idaho
8. Massachusetts
Total tractor operator jobs: 1,212
Average annual salary: $35,309
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
2.96
Tractor operator jobs in Massachusetts
9. Wisconsin
Total tractor operator jobs: 259
Average annual salary: $34,631
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Tractor operator jobs in Wisconsin
10. Wyoming
Total tractor operator jobs: 13
Average annual salary: $36,357
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
0.49
Tractor operator jobs in Wyoming

Tractor operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a tractor operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a tractor operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$39,660	$35,000	739,795	95
2	Iowa	$35,766	$29,000	3,145,711	180
3	North Dakota	$39,044	$32,000	755,393	33
4	Nebraska	$37,533	$31,000	1,920,076	85
5	Rhode Island	$34,690	$28,000	1,059,639	150
6	Illinois	$36,440	$29,000	12,802,023	473
7	Idaho	$35,499	$29,000	1,716,943	76
8	Massachusetts	$35,309	$29,000	6,859,819	1,212
9	Wisconsin	$34,631	$28,000	5,795,483	259
10	Wyoming	$36,357	$30,000	579,315	13
11	Montana	$34,129	$28,000	1,050,493	55
12	Hawaii	$35,974	$30,000	1,427,538	104
13	Washington	$36,059	$29,000	7,405,743	247
14	Utah	$33,630	$27,000	3,101,833	151
15	New York	$38,440	$31,000	19,849,399	263
16	District of Columbia	$36,013	$28,000	693,972	127
17	Minnesota	$34,856	$29,000	5,576,606	206
18	South Dakota	$34,925	$29,000	869,666	15
19	Nevada	$34,162	$27,000	2,998,039	66
20	Maryland	$36,216	$29,000	6,052,177	157
21	Oregon	$35,105	$28,000	4,142,776	111
22	Kansas	$32,307	$26,000	2,913,123	139
23	Ohio	$31,951	$25,000	11,658,609	442
24	New Jersey	$33,241	$26,000	9,005,644	891
25	Maine	$33,232	$28,000	1,335,907	44
26	Indiana	$31,528	$25,000	6,666,818	357
27	Delaware	$32,781	$26,000	961,939	55
28	California	$34,741	$28,000	39,536,653	1,114
29	South Carolina	$30,701	$25,000	5,024,369	257
30	Michigan	$32,179	$26,000	9,962,311	188
31	Texas	$31,461	$25,000	28,304,596	808
32	Arizona	$32,715	$26,000	7,016,270	153
33	New Hampshire	$31,687	$26,000	1,342,795	69
34	Kentucky	$30,261	$24,000	4,454,189	170
35	Georgia	$30,478	$24,000	10,429,379	616
36	Colorado	$33,051	$27,000	5,607,154	177
37	New Mexico	$32,203	$26,000	2,088,070	34
38	Missouri	$31,495	$25,000	6,113,532	217
39	Connecticut	$33,184	$27,000	3,588,184	68
40	North Carolina	$30,261	$24,000	10,273,419	380
41	Virginia	$32,185	$25,000	8,470,020	306
42	Arkansas	$29,636	$24,000	3,004,279	101
43	Pennsylvania	$28,737	$23,000	12,805,537	652
44	West Virginia	$30,550	$24,000	1,815,857	24
45	Mississippi	$28,253	$23,000	2,984,100	116
46	Tennessee	$27,168	$22,000	6,715,984	375
47	Vermont	$30,594	$25,000	623,657	26
48	Florida	$30,185	$23,000	20,984,400	554
49	Alabama	$28,137	$23,000	4,874,747	173
50	Louisiana	$29,235	$23,000	4,684,333	84
51	Oklahoma	$29,029	$23,000	3,930,864	67

Highest paying states for tractor operators

Rank	State	Avg. Tractor Operator Salary
1	Alaska	$39,660
2	Iowa	$35,766
3	North Dakota	$39,044
4	Nebraska	$37,533
5	Rhode Island	$34,690
6	Illinois	$36,440
7	Idaho	$35,499
8	Massachusetts	$35,309
9	Wisconsin	$34,631
10	Wyoming	$36,357
11	Montana	$34,129
12	Hawaii	$35,974
13	Washington	$36,059
14	Utah	$33,630
15	New York	$38,440
16	District of Columbia	$36,013
17	Minnesota	$34,856
18	South Dakota	$34,925
19	Nevada	$34,162
20	Maryland	$36,216
21	Oregon	$35,105
22	Kansas	$32,307
23	Ohio	$31,951
24	New Jersey	$33,241
25	Maine	$33,232
26	Indiana	$31,528
27	Delaware	$32,781
28	California	$34,741
29	South Carolina	$30,701
30	Michigan	$32,179
31	Texas	$31,461
32	Arizona	$32,715
33	New Hampshire	$31,687
34	Kentucky	$30,261
35	Georgia	$30,478
36	Colorado	$33,051
37	New Mexico	$32,203
38	Missouri	$31,495
39	Connecticut	$33,184
40	North Carolina	$30,261
41	Virginia	$32,185
42	Arkansas	$29,636
43	Pennsylvania	$28,737
44	West Virginia	$30,550
45	Mississippi	$28,253
46	Tennessee	$27,168
47	Vermont	$30,594
48	Florida	$30,185
49	Alabama	$28,137
50	Louisiana	$29,235
51	Oklahoma	$29,029

Tractor operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for tractor operators?

What is the highest paying state for tractor operators?

What is the worst state for tractor operators?

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

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Best states for Tractor Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total tractor operator jobs:	95
Average annual salary:	$39,660
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$44,000
Location Quotient:	2.55

Best states for a tractor operator

10 best states for tractor operators in 2025

1. Alaska

2. Iowa

3. North Dakota

4. Nebraska

5. Rhode Island

6. Illinois

7. Idaho

8. Massachusetts

9. Wisconsin

10. Wyoming