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Best states for a utility plant operative
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like utility plant operatives are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for utility plant operatives aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Vermont is the best state for utility plant operatives, while Washington and Alaska are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Vermont has a median salary of $58,085 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for utility plant operatives.
In order to get you the best states for utility plant operatives, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Vermont is the best state, and Bellingham is the city with the highest pay for utility plant operatives.
10 best states for utility plant operatives in 2026
1. Vermont
Total utility plant operative jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $58,085 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.62
2. Maine
Total utility plant operative jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $62,011 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
3. Alaska
Total utility plant operative jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $64,091 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
4. Nevada
Total utility plant operative jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $49,731 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
5. Oregon
Total utility plant operative jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $55,814 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
6. Washington
Total utility plant operative jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $73,092 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 0.47
7. Montana
Total utility plant operative jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $47,409 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
8. North Dakota
Total utility plant operative jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $54,638 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
9. West Virginia
Total utility plant operative jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $45,737 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
10. Wisconsin
Total utility plant operative jobs: 216 Average annual salary: $45,455 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
Utility plant operative jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a utility plant operative
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a utility plant operative
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $58,085 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 34 |
| 2 | Maine | $62,011 | $45,000 | 1,335,907 | 40 |
| 3 | Alaska | $64,091 | $55,000 | 739,795 | 23 |
| 4 | Nevada | $49,731 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 61 |
| 5 | Oregon | $55,814 | $40,000 | 4,142,776 | 104 |
| 6 | Washington | $73,092 | $53,000 | 7,405,743 | 93 |
| 7 | Montana | $47,409 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 44 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $54,638 | $41,000 | 755,393 | 19 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $45,737 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 56 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $45,455 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 216 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $46,571 | $32,000 | 12,805,537 | 363 |
| 12 | Illinois | $48,398 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 351 |
| 13 | Delaware | $49,973 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 32 |
| 14 | California | $52,904 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 826 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $54,891 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 158 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $43,451 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 28 |
| 17 | Indiana | $44,012 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 272 |
| 18 | Colorado | $49,491 | $36,000 | 5,607,154 | 132 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $48,379 | $33,000 | 1,059,639 | 26 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $46,735 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 48 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $49,469 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 67 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $42,023 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 46 |
| 23 | Iowa | $41,895 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 178 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $49,194 | $34,000 | 6,859,819 | 184 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $44,641 | $31,000 | 1,342,795 | 53 |
| 26 | Utah | $46,241 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 70 |
| 27 | Arizona | $44,615 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 168 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $45,689 | $32,000 | 1,920,076 | 44 |
| 29 | Virginia | $46,366 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 220 |
| 30 | Maryland | $49,035 | $33,000 | 6,052,177 | 113 |
| 31 | Ohio | $40,254 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 320 |
| 32 | Michigan | $42,304 | $29,000 | 9,962,311 | 203 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $42,779 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 172 |
| 34 | New York | $45,953 | $31,000 | 19,849,399 | 278 |
| 35 | Kansas | $38,111 | $27,000 | 2,913,123 | 100 |
| 36 | Idaho | $42,237 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 43 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $47,667 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 24 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $35,730 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 151 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $36,823 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 146 |
| 40 | Alabama | $35,642 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 154 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $35,886 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 179 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $30,745 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 94 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $36,840 | $25,000 | 10,273,419 | 261 |
| 44 | Missouri | $37,548 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 128 |
| 45 | Texas | $36,525 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 521 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $30,883 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 104 |
| 47 | Georgia | $31,280 | $22,000 | 10,429,379 | 322 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $32,943 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 54 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $30,025 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 73 |
| 50 | Florida | $33,518 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 345 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $30,775 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 65 |
Highest paying states for utility plant operatives
| Rank | State | Avg. Utility Plant Operative Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $58,085 |
| 2 | Maine | $62,011 |
| 3 | Alaska | $64,091 |
| 4 | Nevada | $49,731 |
| 5 | Oregon | $55,814 |
| 6 | Washington | $73,092 |
| 7 | Montana | $47,409 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $54,638 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $45,737 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $45,455 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $46,571 |
| 12 | Illinois | $48,398 |
| 13 | Delaware | $49,973 |
| 14 | California | $52,904 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $54,891 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $43,451 |
| 17 | Indiana | $44,012 |
| 18 | Colorado | $49,491 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $48,379 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $46,735 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $49,469 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $42,023 |
| 23 | Iowa | $41,895 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $49,194 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $44,641 |
| 26 | Utah | $46,241 |
| 27 | Arizona | $44,615 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $45,689 |
| 29 | Virginia | $46,366 |
| 30 | Maryland | $49,035 |
| 31 | Ohio | $40,254 |
| 32 | Michigan | $42,304 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $42,779 |
| 34 | New York | $45,953 |
| 35 | Kansas | $38,111 |
| 36 | Idaho | $42,237 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $47,667 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $35,730 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $36,823 |
| 40 | Alabama | $35,642 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $35,886 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $30,745 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $36,840 |
| 44 | Missouri | $37,548 |
| 45 | Texas | $36,525 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $30,883 |
| 47 | Georgia | $31,280 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $32,943 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $30,025 |
| 50 | Florida | $33,518 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $30,775 |
Utility plant operative best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025