Cargo Operator Salary
$27K - $29.5K
5% of jobs
$29.5K - $32K
6% of jobs
$32K - $34.5K
8% of jobs
$36.7K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$34.5K - $37K
6% of jobs
$37K - $39.5K
21% of jobs
The median wage is $39.9K / yr.
$39.5K - $42K
24% of jobs
$43K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$42K - $44.5K
11% of jobs
$44.5K - $47K
5% of jobs
$47K - $49.5K
4% of jobs
$49.5K - $52K
2% of jobs
$52K - $54.5K
7% of jobs
$27K
$40K
$53.5K
$40,176
/year
$19.32
/hour
Cargo Operator Salary Comparison by Location
Nationwide
United States
$40,176
Columbus
Ohio
$38,805
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How much does a Cargo Operator make?
As of Aug 13, 2026, the average annual pay for a Cargo Operator in the United States is $40,176 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $19.32 an hour. This is the equivalent of $772/week or $3,348/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $53,500 and as low as $27,000, the majority of Cargo Operator salaries currently range between $36,000 (25th percentile) to $43,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $52,000 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Cargo Operator varies little (about 7000), which suggests that regardless of location, there are not many opportunities for increased pay or advancement, even with several years of experience.
A Cargo Operator in your area makes on average $38,805 per year, or $1,371 (3.412%) less than the national average annual salary of $40,176. Ohio ranks number 40 out of 50 states nationwide for Cargo Operator salaries.
To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Cargo Operator jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.
Find your next high paying job as a Cargo Operator on ZipRecruiter today.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Cargo Operator Jobs
We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Cargo Operator job is above the national average. Topping the list is Kentville, NS, , with Whitehorse, YT, and Haines Junction, YT, close behind in the second and third positions. Haines Junction, YT, beats the national average by $25,254 (62.9%), and Kentville, NS, furthers that trend with another $25,938 (64.6%) above the $40,176 average.
With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Cargo Operator appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 5% between Kentville, NS, and Dauphin, MB, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Cargo Operator role.
City | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Kentville, NS | $66,114 | $31.79 |
Whitehorse, YT | $65,693 | $31.58 |
Haines Junction, YT | $65,430 | $31.46 |
North Cowichan, BC | $65,238 | $31.36 |
Oak Bay, BC | $64,869 | $31.19 |
Victoria, BC | $64,594 | $31.05 |
Alberton, PE | $63,991 | $30.76 |
Saint John, NB | $63,399 | $30.48 |
Kelowna, BC | $63,266 | $30.42 |
Dauphin, MB | $62,550 | $30.07 |
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Cargo Operator Jobs in the U.S.
We found a few related jobs that pay more than jobs in the Cargo Operator category.
For example Independent Contractor Dump Truck Owner Operator jobs pay as much as $94,507 (235.2%) more than the average Cargo Operator salary of $40,176. If you're qualified, finding work as a Independent Contractor Dump Truck Owner Operator may help you make more money than that of the average Cargo Operator position.
Job Title | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Independent Contractor Dump Truck Owner Operator | $134,683 | $64.75 |
Cargo Van Owner | $114,182 | $54.90 |
Sprinter Van Drivers | $56,645 | $27.23 |
Independent Contractor Owner Operator Cargo Van Driver | $56,156 | $27.00 |
Cargo Van Delivery | $38,383 | $18.45 |
About Our Data
ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.
