Best states for a yard switch operator

Q: What is the best state for yard switch operators?

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

Q: What is the highest paying state for yard switch operators?

The highest paying state for yard switch operators is Idaho based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for yard switch operators?

The worst state for yard switch operators is Idaho, 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 yard switch operators in the United States. Yard switch 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 yard switch operators.In order to help you decide which state is the best for yard switch operators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for yard switch operator jobs.

Alaska is the best state for jobs for yard switch operators, and Idaho is the worst. The most common pay in Alaska is $44,639, while the median pay in Idaho is $25,671.We found that the South is best for yard switch operators, and the Northeast is the worst. North Bergen, NJ is the best city in the country for yard switch operator jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.

10 best states for yard switch operators in 2025

1. Alaska
Total yard switch operator jobs: 99
Average annual salary: $44,639
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
9.13
Yard switch operator jobs in Alaska
2. Pennsylvania
Total yard switch operator jobs: 69
Average annual salary: $38,513
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.46
Yard switch operator jobs in Pennsylvania
3. New Jersey
Total yard switch operator jobs: 896
Average annual salary: $39,109
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
8.69
Yard switch operator jobs in New Jersey
4. Minnesota
Total yard switch operator jobs: 40
Average annual salary: $38,387
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.46
Yard switch operator jobs in Minnesota
5. Rhode Island
Total yard switch operator jobs: 155
Average annual salary: $36,415
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
9.82
Yard switch operator jobs in Rhode Island
6. North Dakota
Total yard switch operator jobs: 4
Average annual salary: $38,487
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.33
Yard switch operator jobs in North Dakota
7. Ohio
Total yard switch operator jobs: 57
Average annual salary: $36,059
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.43
Yard switch operator jobs in Ohio
8. Michigan
Total yard switch operator jobs: 30
Average annual salary: $39,384
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
0.3
Yard switch operator jobs in Michigan
9. Wisconsin
Total yard switch operator jobs: 26
Average annual salary: $36,856
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.36
Yard switch operator jobs in Wisconsin
10. Iowa
Total yard switch operator jobs: 17
Average annual salary: $36,788
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.36
Yard switch operator jobs in Iowa

Yard switch operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a yard switch operator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a yard switch operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$44,639	$30,000	739,795	99
2	Pennsylvania	$38,513	$27,000	12,805,537	69
3	New Jersey	$39,109	$27,000	9,005,644	896
4	Minnesota	$38,387	$29,000	5,576,606	40
5	Rhode Island	$36,415	$26,000	1,059,639	155
6	North Dakota	$38,487	$30,000	755,393	4
7	Ohio	$36,059	$27,000	11,658,609	57
8	Michigan	$39,384	$29,000	9,962,311	30
9	Wisconsin	$36,856	$28,000	5,795,483	26
10	Iowa	$36,788	$28,000	3,145,711	17
11	Massachusetts	$36,168	$26,000	6,859,819	1,225
12	South Dakota	$35,178	$26,000	869,666	10
13	Hawaii	$37,658	$29,000	1,427,538	99
14	Montana	$34,626	$25,000	1,050,493	10
15	Indiana	$34,414	$26,000	6,666,818	36
16	Connecticut	$36,677	$26,000	3,588,184	15
17	Illinois	$37,373	$28,000	12,802,023	35
18	New York	$39,174	$27,000	19,849,399	34
19	New Hampshire	$35,971	$27,000	1,342,795	4
20	West Virginia	$34,007	$25,000	1,815,857	6
21	Wyoming	$32,946	$24,000	579,315	3
22	Maryland	$34,800	$25,000	6,052,177	29
23	District of Columbia	$34,463	$24,000	693,972	131
24	Vermont	$36,068	$28,000	623,657	0
25	Delaware	$35,660	$25,000	961,939	2
26	Kentucky	$32,855	$24,000	4,454,189	13
27	Kansas	$32,557	$24,000	2,913,123	12
28	Oregon	$31,198	$20,000	4,142,776	26
29	Nebraska	$33,488	$25,000	1,920,076	3
30	Utah	$29,307	$20,000	3,101,833	33
31	North Carolina	$30,625	$23,000	10,273,419	43
32	Maine	$30,599	$24,000	1,335,907	6
33	California	$32,414	$21,000	39,536,653	120
34	Colorado	$30,541	$22,000	5,607,154	32
35	Missouri	$31,756	$24,000	6,113,532	15
36	Arkansas	$30,410	$23,000	3,004,279	9
37	Tennessee	$28,777	$22,000	6,715,984	25
38	Alabama	$28,506	$21,000	4,874,747	22
39	Georgia	$29,278	$22,000	10,429,379	55
40	South Carolina	$27,918	$21,000	5,024,369	29
41	Mississippi	$27,399	$21,000	2,984,100	15
42	New Mexico	$30,531	$22,000	2,088,070	2
43	Oklahoma	$29,833	$22,000	3,930,864	7
44	Washington	$26,580	$17,000	7,405,743	44
45	Texas	$29,731	$21,000	28,304,596	47
46	Nevada	$29,688	$19,000	2,998,039	3
47	Florida	$27,988	$21,000	20,984,400	55
48	Louisiana	$26,444	$20,000	4,684,333	14
49	Virginia	$27,966	$20,000	8,470,020	27
50	Arizona	$26,057	$17,000	7,016,270	19
51	Idaho	$25,671	$17,000	1,716,943	3

Highest paying states for yard switch operators

Rank	State	Avg. Yard Switch Operator Salary
1	Alaska	$44,639
2	Pennsylvania	$38,513
3	New Jersey	$39,109
4	Minnesota	$38,387
5	Rhode Island	$36,415
6	North Dakota	$38,487
7	Ohio	$36,059
8	Michigan	$39,384
9	Wisconsin	$36,856
10	Iowa	$36,788
11	Massachusetts	$36,168
12	South Dakota	$35,178
13	Hawaii	$37,658
14	Montana	$34,626
15	Indiana	$34,414
16	Connecticut	$36,677
17	Illinois	$37,373
18	New York	$39,174
19	New Hampshire	$35,971
20	West Virginia	$34,007
21	Wyoming	$32,946
22	Maryland	$34,800
23	District of Columbia	$34,463
24	Vermont	$36,068
25	Delaware	$35,660
26	Kentucky	$32,855
27	Kansas	$32,557
28	Oregon	$31,198
29	Nebraska	$33,488
30	Utah	$29,307
31	North Carolina	$30,625
32	Maine	$30,599
33	California	$32,414
34	Colorado	$30,541
35	Missouri	$31,756
36	Arkansas	$30,410
37	Tennessee	$28,777
38	Alabama	$28,506
39	Georgia	$29,278
40	South Carolina	$27,918
41	Mississippi	$27,399
42	New Mexico	$30,531
43	Oklahoma	$29,833
44	Washington	$26,580
45	Texas	$29,731
46	Nevada	$29,688
47	Florida	$27,988
48	Louisiana	$26,444
49	Virginia	$27,966
50	Arizona	$26,057
51	Idaho	$25,671

Yard switch operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for yard switch operators?

What is the highest paying state for yard switch operators?

What is the worst state for yard switch operators?

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Yard Switch Operator
Best states for Yard Switch Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total yard switch operator jobs:	99
Average annual salary:	$44,639
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$65,000
Location Quotient:	9.13

Best states for a yard switch operator

10 best states for yard switch operators in 2025

1. Alaska

2. Pennsylvania

3. New Jersey

4. Minnesota

5. Rhode Island

6. North Dakota

7. Ohio

8. Michigan

9. Wisconsin

10. Iowa