Best states for a transit operator

Q: What is the best state for transit operators?

The best state to be a transit operator is New Jersey based on transit operator salaries and job opportunities.

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

The highest paying state for transit operators is Texas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for transit operators?

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

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It seems like transit operators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for transit operators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. We wanted to look at the best states for transit operators -- where there are plenty of transit operator jobs to go around and transit operators get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

New Jersey is the best state for jobs for transit operators, and Texas is the worst. The most common pay in New Jersey is $44,221, while the median pay in Texas is $30,991.New Jersey is the best state, and Bergenfield is the city with the highest pay for transit operators.

10 best states for transit operators in 2025

1. New Jersey
Total transit operator jobs: 879
Average annual salary: $44,221
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
10.36
Transit operator jobs in New Jersey
2. North Dakota
Total transit operator jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $40,506
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
0.3
Transit operator jobs in North Dakota
3. New Hampshire
Total transit operator jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $43,095
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
0.16
Transit operator jobs in New Hampshire
4. Maine
Total transit operator jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $40,109
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.21
Transit operator jobs in Maine
5. Nevada
Total transit operator jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $41,959
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
0.13
Transit operator jobs in Nevada
6. Massachusetts
Total transit operator jobs: 1,219
Average annual salary: $40,587
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
12.42
Transit operator jobs in Massachusetts
7. South Dakota
Total transit operator jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $38,652
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.79
Transit operator jobs in South Dakota
8. Montana
Total transit operator jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $39,429
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.24
Transit operator jobs in Montana
9. Tennessee
Total transit operator jobs: 8
Average annual salary: $41,173
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
0.13
Transit operator jobs in Tennessee
10. Alaska
Total transit operator jobs: 95
Average annual salary: $40,567
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
10.65
Transit operator jobs in Alaska

Transit operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a transit operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a transit operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Jersey	$44,221	$35,000	9,005,644	879
2	North Dakota	$40,506	$35,000	755,393	3
3	New Hampshire	$43,095	$37,000	1,342,795	3
4	Maine	$40,109	$35,000	1,335,907	3
5	Nevada	$41,959	$34,000	2,998,039	3
6	Massachusetts	$40,587	$34,000	6,859,819	1,219
7	South Dakota	$38,652	$32,000	869,666	9
8	Montana	$39,429	$34,000	1,050,493	3
9	Tennessee	$41,173	$33,000	6,715,984	8
10	Alaska	$40,567	$37,000	739,795	95
11	Kansas	$38,043	$31,000	2,913,123	7
12	Minnesota	$38,580	$33,000	5,576,606	21
13	Michigan	$40,019	$33,000	9,962,311	9
14	Connecticut	$42,870	$35,000	3,588,184	0
15	Washington	$42,121	$36,000	7,405,743	6
16	Idaho	$38,929	$33,000	1,716,943	2
17	Pennsylvania	$37,935	$30,000	12,805,537	18
18	Vermont	$40,354	$35,000	623,657	0
19	West Virginia	$38,549	$31,000	1,815,857	1
20	District of Columbia	$39,242	$31,000	693,972	132
21	Louisiana	$37,357	$29,000	4,684,333	6
22	Hawaii	$39,217	$34,000	1,427,538	96
23	Iowa	$36,389	$30,000	3,145,711	55
24	Utah	$37,087	$31,000	3,101,833	6
25	Rhode Island	$36,772	$30,000	1,059,639	153
26	California	$39,703	$32,000	39,536,653	53
27	New York	$40,700	$33,000	19,849,399	9
28	Oregon	$39,108	$33,000	4,142,776	4
29	Wisconsin	$37,138	$31,000	5,795,483	9
30	Alabama	$35,832	$28,000	4,874,747	7
31	Maryland	$38,861	$31,000	6,052,177	9
32	Colorado	$37,494	$31,000	5,607,154	12
33	Mississippi	$35,589	$28,000	2,984,100	4
34	Arizona	$36,754	$29,000	7,016,270	9
35	Nebraska	$36,354	$30,000	1,920,076	4
36	Delaware	$35,738	$28,000	961,939	4
37	Illinois	$37,593	$31,000	12,802,023	16
38	Indiana	$36,364	$30,000	6,666,818	7
39	Virginia	$35,631	$28,000	8,470,020	24
40	Georgia	$36,365	$28,000	10,429,379	9
41	Wyoming	$33,246	$28,000	579,315	2
42	Missouri	$34,776	$28,000	6,113,532	18
43	Arkansas	$35,551	$28,000	3,004,279	2
44	North Carolina	$34,219	$27,000	10,273,419	29
45	Oklahoma	$33,149	$27,000	3,930,864	10
46	South Carolina	$35,390	$28,000	5,024,369	2
47	Kentucky	$32,559	$26,000	4,454,189	7
48	Florida	$32,295	$24,000	20,984,400	32
49	New Mexico	$33,348	$26,000	2,088,070	3
50	Ohio	$31,451	$25,000	11,658,609	18
51	Texas	$30,991	$24,000	28,304,596	12

Highest paying states for transit operators

Rank	State	Avg. Transit Operator Salary
1	New Jersey	$44,221
2	North Dakota	$40,506
3	New Hampshire	$43,095
4	Maine	$40,109
5	Nevada	$41,959
6	Massachusetts	$40,587
7	South Dakota	$38,652
8	Montana	$39,429
9	Tennessee	$41,173
10	Alaska	$40,567
11	Kansas	$38,043
12	Minnesota	$38,580
13	Michigan	$40,019
14	Connecticut	$42,870
15	Washington	$42,121
16	Idaho	$38,929
17	Pennsylvania	$37,935
18	Vermont	$40,354
19	West Virginia	$38,549
20	District of Columbia	$39,242
21	Louisiana	$37,357
22	Hawaii	$39,217
23	Iowa	$36,389
24	Utah	$37,087
25	Rhode Island	$36,772
26	California	$39,703
27	New York	$40,700
28	Oregon	$39,108
29	Wisconsin	$37,138
30	Alabama	$35,832
31	Maryland	$38,861
32	Colorado	$37,494
33	Mississippi	$35,589
34	Arizona	$36,754
35	Nebraska	$36,354
36	Delaware	$35,738
37	Illinois	$37,593
38	Indiana	$36,364
39	Virginia	$35,631
40	Georgia	$36,365
41	Wyoming	$33,246
42	Missouri	$34,776
43	Arkansas	$35,551
44	North Carolina	$34,219
45	Oklahoma	$33,149
46	South Carolina	$35,390
47	Kentucky	$32,559
48	Florida	$32,295
49	New Mexico	$33,348
50	Ohio	$31,451
51	Texas	$30,991

Transit operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for transit operators?

What is the highest paying state for transit operators?

What is the worst state for transit operators?

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

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Best states for Transit Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs

Total transit operator jobs:	879
Average annual salary:	$44,221
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$54,000
Location Quotient:	10.36

Best states for a transit operator

10 best states for transit operators in 2025

1. New Jersey

2. North Dakota

3. New Hampshire

4. Maine

5. Nevada

6. Massachusetts

7. South Dakota

8. Montana

9. Tennessee

10. Alaska