Best states for a train operator

Q: What is the best state for train operators?

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

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

The highest paying state for train operators is Arkansas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for train operators?

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

Rank 1 - 10
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and business and financial careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to train operator jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for train operators.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for train operator jobs.

Rhode Island is the best state for jobs for train operators, and Nevada is the worst. The most common pay in Rhode Island is $46,463, while the median pay in Nevada is $32,457.If you are currently seeking employment as a train operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for train operators in 2025

1. Rhode Island
Total train operator jobs: 211
Average annual salary: $46,463
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
2.35
Train operator jobs in Rhode Island
2. New Jersey
Total train operator jobs: 1,272
Average annual salary: $49,747
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000
Location Quotient:
2.17
Train operator jobs in New Jersey
3. Virginia
Total train operator jobs: 687
Average annual salary: $52,304
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Train operator jobs in Virginia
4. Minnesota
Total train operator jobs: 443
Average annual salary: $48,642
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Train operator jobs in Minnesota
5. New Hampshire
Total train operator jobs: 113
Average annual salary: $47,802
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Train operator jobs in New Hampshire
6. Nebraska
Total train operator jobs: 152
Average annual salary: $45,795
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Train operator jobs in Nebraska
7. Kansas
Total train operator jobs: 213
Average annual salary: $44,760
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Train operator jobs in Kansas
8. Montana
Total train operator jobs: 79
Average annual salary: $45,490
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Train operator jobs in Montana
9. Iowa
Total train operator jobs: 277
Average annual salary: $42,740
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Train operator jobs in Iowa
10. New York
Total train operator jobs: 680
Average annual salary: $51,772
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Train operator jobs in New York

Train operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a train operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a train operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$46,463	$31,000	1,059,639	211
2	New Jersey	$49,747	$33,000	9,005,644	1,272
3	Virginia	$52,304	$34,000	8,470,020	687
4	Minnesota	$48,642	$33,000	5,576,606	443
5	New Hampshire	$47,802	$33,000	1,342,795	113
6	Nebraska	$45,795	$31,000	1,920,076	152
7	Kansas	$44,760	$30,000	2,913,123	213
8	Montana	$45,490	$31,000	1,050,493	79
9	Iowa	$42,740	$29,000	3,145,711	277
10	New York	$51,772	$34,000	19,849,399	680
11	Massachusetts	$43,386	$29,000	6,859,819	1,583
12	Connecticut	$51,257	$34,000	3,588,184	165
13	California	$51,179	$34,000	39,536,653	1,521
14	Kentucky	$39,744	$26,000	4,454,189	319
15	Michigan	$41,512	$28,000	9,962,311	562
16	Illinois	$44,148	$30,000	12,802,023	794
17	Hawaii	$43,681	$33,000	1,427,538	144
18	Mississippi	$39,228	$27,000	2,984,100	225
19	Delaware	$42,873	$28,000	961,939	88
20	North Dakota	$39,976	$28,000	755,393	68
21	District of Columbia	$43,403	$28,000	693,972	229
22	Maine	$40,340	$28,000	1,335,907	99
23	Colorado	$43,743	$30,000	5,607,154	407
24	Washington	$45,077	$31,000	7,405,743	365
25	Alaska	$38,504	$29,000	739,795	131
26	Wyoming	$39,179	$27,000	579,315	43
27	South Dakota	$40,844	$28,000	869,666	60
28	Texas	$38,663	$26,000	28,304,596	1,484
29	Maryland	$44,806	$29,000	6,052,177	402
30	Louisiana	$37,561	$25,000	4,684,333	273
31	Tennessee	$36,465	$25,000	6,715,984	453
32	New Mexico	$38,158	$26,000	2,088,070	135
33	Utah	$35,398	$24,000	3,101,833	271
34	Alabama	$35,030	$24,000	4,874,747	304
35	Pennsylvania	$36,503	$24,000	12,805,537	728
36	Vermont	$38,488	$26,000	623,657	40
37	North Carolina	$36,588	$24,000	10,273,419	614
38	Oregon	$37,319	$26,000	4,142,776	234
39	South Carolina	$35,868	$24,000	5,024,369	287
40	Missouri	$33,652	$23,000	6,113,532	467
41	Georgia	$34,746	$24,000	10,429,379	667
42	Indiana	$34,418	$23,000	6,666,818	424
43	Oklahoma	$28,672	$19,000	3,930,864	313
44	Idaho	$34,206	$23,000	1,716,943	111
45	Arizona	$32,531	$22,000	7,016,270	428
46	Florida	$34,682	$24,000	20,984,400	1,034
47	West Virginia	$27,666	$18,000	1,815,857	130
48	Wisconsin	$32,605	$22,000	5,795,483	379
49	Arkansas	$26,988	$18,000	3,004,279	265
50	Ohio	$31,331	$21,000	11,658,609	650
51	Nevada	$32,457	$22,000	2,998,039	114

Highest paying states for train operators

Rank	State	Avg. Train Operator Salary
1	Rhode Island	$46,463
2	New Jersey	$49,747
3	Virginia	$52,304
4	Minnesota	$48,642
5	New Hampshire	$47,802
6	Nebraska	$45,795
7	Kansas	$44,760
8	Montana	$45,490
9	Iowa	$42,740
10	New York	$51,772
11	Massachusetts	$43,386
12	Connecticut	$51,257
13	California	$51,179
14	Kentucky	$39,744
15	Michigan	$41,512
16	Illinois	$44,148
17	Hawaii	$43,681
18	Mississippi	$39,228
19	Delaware	$42,873
20	North Dakota	$39,976
21	District of Columbia	$43,403
22	Maine	$40,340
23	Colorado	$43,743
24	Washington	$45,077
25	Alaska	$38,504
26	Wyoming	$39,179
27	South Dakota	$40,844
28	Texas	$38,663
29	Maryland	$44,806
30	Louisiana	$37,561
31	Tennessee	$36,465
32	New Mexico	$38,158
33	Utah	$35,398
34	Alabama	$35,030
35	Pennsylvania	$36,503
36	Vermont	$38,488
37	North Carolina	$36,588
38	Oregon	$37,319
39	South Carolina	$35,868
40	Missouri	$33,652
41	Georgia	$34,746
42	Indiana	$34,418
43	Oklahoma	$28,672
44	Idaho	$34,206
45	Arizona	$32,531
46	Florida	$34,682
47	West Virginia	$27,666
48	Wisconsin	$32,605
49	Arkansas	$26,988
50	Ohio	$31,331
51	Nevada	$32,457

Train operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for train operators?

What is the highest paying state for train operators?

What is the worst state for train operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.

Search for train operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

Total train operator jobs:	211
Average annual salary:	$46,463
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$68,000
Location Quotient:	2.35

Best states for a train operator

10 best states for train operators in 2025

1. Rhode Island

2. New Jersey

3. Virginia

4. Minnesota

5. New Hampshire

6. Nebraska

7. Kansas

8. Montana

9. Iowa

10. New York