Heavy equipment operator salary: what heavy equipment operators actually make
Heavy equipment operators earned a median $28.78 an hour ($59,850 a year) in May 2025, across 478,090 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
How much do heavy equipment operators make?
The median heavy equipment operator earned $28.78 an hour, or $59,850 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 478,090 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $23.40 and $37.10 an hour.
The middle half of heavy equipment operators earn between $23.40 and $37.10 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $48.60 ($101,090 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $20.28. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master heavy equipment operator pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level heavy equipment operator earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master heavy equipment operator, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $20.28 – $23.40 | $42,190 – $48,680 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.40 – $37.10 | $48,680 – $77,170 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $37.10 – $48.60 | $77,170 – $101,090 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
Heavy equipment operator pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $55.70 | 94% above |
| Illinois | $46.99 | 63% above |
| New Jersey | $43.11 | 50% above |
| California | $41.90 | 46% above |
| Washington | $39.28 | 36% above |
| New York | $38.94 | 35% above |
| Indiana | $38.26 | 33% above |
| Minnesota | $38.04 | 32% above |
| Connecticut | $37.86 | 32% above |
| Alaska | $37.41 | 30% above |
| Massachusetts | $36.93 | 28% above |
| Wisconsin | $36.19 | 26% above |
| District of Columbia | $35.87 | 25% above |
| Oregon | $35.30 | 23% above |
| Nevada | $34.33 | 19% above |
| Ohio | $31.22 | 8% above |
| Rhode Island | $30.58 | 6% above |
| Wyoming | $30.27 | 5% above |
| Michigan | $30.14 | 5% above |
| Colorado | $30.11 | 5% above |
| New Hampshire | $29.91 | 4% above |
| North Dakota | $29.88 | 4% above |
| Idaho | $29.66 | 3% above |
| Montana | $29.61 | 3% above |
| Maryland | $29.53 | 3% above |
| Utah | $29.20 | 1% above |
| Arizona | $29.14 | 1% above |
| Missouri | $29.10 | 1% above |
| Pennsylvania | $29.10 | 1% above |
| Iowa | $29.01 | 1% above |
| South Dakota | $28.61 | 1% below |
| Vermont | $28.30 | 2% below |
| Nebraska | $28.06 | 3% below |
| Delaware | $27.89 | 3% below |
| Kentucky | $27.78 | 3% below |
| Virginia | $27.48 | 5% below |
| Maine | $26.99 | 6% below |
| New Mexico | $25.00 | 13% below |
| Tennessee | $25.00 | 13% below |
| Louisiana | $24.86 | 14% below |
| Kansas | $24.82 | 14% below |
| West Virginia | $24.66 | 14% below |
| Texas | $24.26 | 16% below |
| Florida | $23.75 | 17% below |
| North Carolina | $23.71 | 18% below |
| South Carolina | $23.53 | 18% below |
| Oklahoma | $23.06 | 20% below |
| Georgia | $23.02 | 20% below |
| Alabama | $22.84 | 21% below |
| Mississippi | $22.79 | 21% below |
| Arkansas | $21.41 | 26% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $55.70 | $50.64 | #1 | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $46.99 | $46.99 | #2 | 12,290 |
| New Jersey | $43.11 | $39.62 | #4 | 5,980 |
| California | $41.90 | $37.85 | #7 | 36,020 |
| Washington | $39.28 | $36.71 | #8 | 10,290 |
| New York | $38.94 | $36.09 | #11 | 14,490 |
| Indiana | $38.26 | $41.01 | #3 | 11,520 |
| Minnesota | $38.04 | $38.58 | #5 | 8,590 |
| Connecticut | $37.86 | $36.54 | #9 | 2,860 |
| Alaska | $37.41 | $36.53 | #10 | 3,050 |
| Massachusetts | $36.93 | $34.91 | #12 | 9,680 |
| Wisconsin | $36.19 | $38.46 | #6 | 8,140 |
| District of Columbia | $35.87 | $32.64 | #19 | 620 |
| Oregon | $35.30 | $34.14 | #14 | 5,630 |
| Nevada | $34.33 | $34.33 | #13 | 5,410 |
| Ohio | $31.22 | $33.64 | #15 | 16,920 |
| Rhode Island | $30.58 | $29.89 | #27 | 970 |
| Wyoming | $30.27 | $32.65 | #18 | 3,800 |
| Michigan | $30.14 | $31.33 | #22 | 9,500 |
| Colorado | $30.11 | $29.20 | #30 | 11,700 |
| New Hampshire | $29.91 | $28.70 | #33 | 1,330 |
| North Dakota | $29.88 | $33.57 | #16 | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $29.66 | $31.06 | #25 | 4,270 |
| Montana | $29.61 | $31.30 | #23 | 3,750 |
| Maryland | $29.53 | $28.12 | #35 | 6,610 |
| Utah | $29.20 | $29.52 | #29 | 7,880 |
| Arizona | $29.14 | $28.94 | #31 | 13,200 |
| Missouri | $29.10 | $32.05 | #21 | 10,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.10 | $29.82 | #28 | 22,120 |
| Iowa | $29.01 | $33.04 | #17 | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $28.61 | $32.29 | #20 | 2,050 |
| Vermont | $28.30 | $28.88 | #32 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $28.06 | $31.14 | #24 | 3,180 |
| Delaware | $27.89 | $27.95 | #36 | 1,230 |
| Kentucky | $27.78 | $30.80 | #26 | 7,050 |
| Virginia | $27.48 | $27.18 | #41 | 12,100 |
| Maine | $26.99 | $27.82 | #37 | 2,210 |
| New Mexico | $25.00 | $27.11 | #42 | 5,520 |
| Tennessee | $25.00 | $27.20 | #40 | 10,660 |
| Louisiana | $24.86 | $28.19 | #34 | 7,860 |
| Kansas | $24.82 | $27.55 | #39 | 7,070 |
| West Virginia | $24.66 | $27.55 | #38 | 7,830 |
| Texas | $24.26 | $24.98 | #48 | 55,540 |
| Florida | $23.75 | $22.97 | #51 | 27,510 |
| North Carolina | $23.71 | $25.14 | #46 | 16,580 |
| South Carolina | $23.53 | $25.11 | #47 | 8,160 |
| Oklahoma | $23.06 | $26.26 | #43 | 7,050 |
| Georgia | $23.02 | $23.90 | #50 | 15,700 |
| Alabama | $22.84 | $25.72 | #45 | 9,640 |
| Mississippi | $22.79 | $26.20 | #44 | 4,170 |
| Arkansas | $21.41 | $24.64 | #49 | 5,800 |
Heavy equipment operator wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.31 | $29.59 | 324,350 |
| 2000 | $15.99 | $29.89 | 333,200 |
| 2001 | $16.42 | $29.85 | 353,650 |
| 2002 | $16.94 | $30.32 | 343,710 |
| 2003 | $16.84 | $29.46 | 343,640 |
| 2004 | $17.00 | $28.97 | 357,080 |
| 2005 | $17.23 | $28.40 | 378,720 |
| 2006 | $17.74 | $28.33 | 393,090 |
| 2007 | $18.33 | $28.46 | 403,620 |
| 2008 | $18.88 | $28.23 | 398,910 |
| 2009 | $19.12 | $28.69 | 368,200 |
| 2010 | $19.42 | $28.67 | 334,730 |
| 2011 | $19.96 | $28.57 | 335,410 |
| 2012 | $20.13 | $28.23 | 335,160 |
| 2013 | $20.45 | $28.26 | 340,950 |
| 2014 | $20.92 | $28.45 | 344,510 |
| 2015 | $21.44 | $29.12 | 355,140 |
| 2016 | $22.06 | $29.59 | 356,750 |
| 2017 | $22.61 | $29.70 | 365,300 |
| 2018 | $22.98 | $29.46 | 383,480 |
| 2019 | $23.55 | $29.66 | 405,750 |
| 2020 | $23.93 | $29.77 | 402,870 |
| 2021 | $23.25 | $27.62 | 404,820 |
| 2022 | $24.73 | $27.20 | 423,040 |
| 2023 | $27.00 | $28.53 | 450,370 |
| 2024 | $28.23 | $28.97 | 469,270 |
| 2025 | $28.78 | $28.78 | 478,090 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median heavy equipment operator wage changed by -1.2% over the last ten years and by -3.0% since 2019.
Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 478,090 heavy equipment operators in May 2025, +34.6% compared with 355,140 ten years earlier and +17.8% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 324,350 |
| 2000 | 333,200 |
| 2001 | 353,650 |
| 2002 | 343,710 |
| 2003 | 343,640 |
| 2004 | 357,080 |
| 2005 | 378,720 |
| 2006 | 393,090 |
| 2007 | 403,620 |
| 2008 | 398,910 |
| 2009 | 368,200 |
| 2010 | 334,730 |
| 2011 | 335,410 |
| 2012 | 335,160 |
| 2013 | 340,950 |
| 2014 | 344,510 |
| 2015 | 355,140 |
| 2016 | 356,750 |
| 2017 | 365,300 |
| 2018 | 383,480 |
| 2019 | 405,750 |
| 2020 | 402,870 |
| 2021 | 404,820 |
| 2022 | 423,040 |
| 2023 | 450,370 |
| 2024 | 469,270 |
| 2025 | 478,090 |
Of the 38 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 33 counted more heavy equipment operators in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Tennessee (+125.4%, 4,730 to 10,660); the weakest was Wyoming (-22.6%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 4,730 | 10,660 | +125.4% | +60.5% |
| Florida | 14,160 | 27,510 | +94.3% | +30.7% |
| Arizona | 7,300 | 13,200 | +80.8% | +57.1% |
| North Carolina | 9,510 | 16,580 | +74.3% | +21.6% |
| Massachusetts | 5,560 | 9,680 | +74.1% | +28.7% |
| Georgia | 9,170 | 15,700 | +71.2% | +21.4% |
| Missouri | 6,470 | 10,470 | +61.8% | +38.1% |
| Arkansas | 3,590 | 5,800 | +61.6% | +52.6% |
| South Carolina | 5,060 | 8,160 | +61.3% | +18.4% |
| Alabama | 6,080 | 9,640 | +58.6% | +33.0% |
| Texas | 37,170 | 55,540 | +49.4% | +20.0% |
| Utah | 5,330 | 7,880 | +47.8% | +82.0% |
| Michigan | 6,450 | 9,500 | +47.3% | +14.5% |
| Washington | 7,060 | 10,290 | +45.8% | +14.3% |
| California | 24,980 | 36,020 | +44.2% | +26.6% |
| Oregon | 3,920 | 5,630 | +43.6% | +13.5% |
| Indiana | 8,140 | 11,520 | +41.5% | +14.2% |
| Colorado | 8,870 | 11,700 | +31.9% | +6.7% |
| Maryland | 5,150 | 6,610 | +28.3% | +18.2% |
| West Virginia | 6,160 | 7,830 | +27.1% | -11.2% |
| Montana | 3,110 | 3,750 | +20.6% | +17.6% |
| Illinois | 10,470 | 12,290 | +17.4% | +14.0% |
| New Jersey | 5,100 | 5,980 | +17.3% | +16.6% |
| Oklahoma | 6,080 | 7,050 | +16.0% | +1.7% |
| New York | 12,750 | 14,490 | +13.6% | +3.8% |
| Ohio | 15,160 | 16,920 | +11.6% | +9.6% |
| New Mexico | 4,960 | 5,520 | +11.3% | +30.5% |
| Virginia | 10,960 | 12,100 | +10.4% | +10.7% |
| Kansas | 6,420 | 7,070 | +10.1% | -4.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 20,090 | 22,120 | +10.1% | +6.0% |
| Kentucky | 6,610 | 7,050 | +6.7% | +51.0% |
| Wisconsin | 7,740 | 8,140 | +5.2% | -2.7% |
| North Dakota | 4,690 | 4,890 | +4.3% | +34.0% |
| Iowa | 5,710 | 5,530 | -3.2% | -6.6% |
| Louisiana | 8,800 | 7,860 | -10.7% | -6.8% |
| Minnesota | 9,810 | 8,590 | -12.4% | -16.1% |
| Alaska | 3,690 | 3,050 | -17.3% | +1.7% |
| Wyoming | 4,910 | 3,800 | -22.6% | -6.4% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the heavy equipment operator jobs are
Wyoming has the highest concentration of heavy equipment operators, 4.4× the national share, followed by North Dakota (3.7×) and West Virginia (3.6×). The lowest is District of Columbia at 0.3×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 3,800 | 13.5 | 4.4× |
| North Dakota | 4,890 | 11.4 | 3.7× |
| West Virginia | 7,830 | 11.2 | 3.6× |
| Alaska | 3,050 | 9.4 | 3.0× |
| Montana | 3,750 | 7.3 | 2.4× |
| New Mexico | 5,520 | 6.3 | 2.1× |
| Idaho | 4,270 | 5.0 | 1.6× |
| Kansas | 7,070 | 4.9 | 1.6× |
| Alabama | 9,640 | 4.6 | 1.5× |
| Utah | 7,880 | 4.5 | 1.5× |
| South Dakota | 2,050 | 4.5 | 1.5× |
| Arkansas | 5,800 | 4.5 | 1.4× |
| Vermont | 1,280 | 4.2 | 1.4× |
| Oklahoma | 7,050 | 4.1 | 1.3× |
| Arizona | 13,200 | 4.1 | 1.3× |
| Colorado | 11,700 | 4.1 | 1.3× |
| Louisiana | 7,860 | 4.1 | 1.3× |
| Texas | 55,540 | 4.0 | 1.3× |
| Hawaii | 2,380 | 3.8 | 1.2× |
| Pennsylvania | 22,120 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Indiana | 11,520 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Mississippi | 4,170 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Missouri | 10,470 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Iowa | 5,530 | 3.5 | 1.1× |
| Kentucky | 7,050 | 3.5 | 1.1× |
| South Carolina | 8,160 | 3.5 | 1.1× |
| Nevada | 5,410 | 3.5 | 1.1× |
| Maine | 2,210 | 3.5 | 1.1× |
| North Carolina | 16,580 | 3.4 | 1.1× |
| Tennessee | 10,660 | 3.2 | 1.1× |
| Georgia | 15,700 | 3.2 | 1.0× |
| Nebraska | 3,180 | 3.1 | 1.0× |
| Ohio | 16,920 | 3.0 | 1.0× |
| Virginia | 12,100 | 2.9 | 1.0× |
| Minnesota | 8,590 | 2.9 | 0.9× |
| Washington | 10,290 | 2.9 | 0.9× |
| Oregon | 5,630 | 2.9 | 0.9× |
| Florida | 27,510 | 2.8 | 0.9× |
| Wisconsin | 8,140 | 2.8 | 0.9× |
| Massachusetts | 9,680 | 2.7 | 0.9× |
| Delaware | 1,230 | 2.5 | 0.8× |
| Maryland | 6,610 | 2.4 | 0.8× |
| Michigan | 9,500 | 2.2 | 0.7× |
| Illinois | 12,290 | 2.0 | 0.7× |
| California | 36,020 | 2.0 | 0.6× |
| New Hampshire | 1,330 | 1.9 | 0.6× |
| Rhode Island | 970 | 1.9 | 0.6× |
| Connecticut | 2,860 | 1.7 | 0.6× |
| New York | 14,490 | 1.5 | 0.5× |
| New Jersey | 5,980 | 1.4 | 0.5× |
| District of Columbia | 620 | 0.9 | 0.3× |
Metros with the most heavy equipment operator jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 14,000 | $24.54 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 11,510 | $24.70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,430 | $45.70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 8,780 | $44.66 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 8,360 | $23.77 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 7,980 | $30.07 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,930 | $49.57 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,450 | $29.64 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,370 | $36.99 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,850 | $24.91 |
Highest-paying metros for heavy equipment operators
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59.97 | $51.88 | #2 | $71.76 | 4,080 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59.78 | $54.15 | #1 | $73.44 | 1,360 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $56.55 | $50.95 | #3 | $62.10 | 1,430 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50.52 | $46.86 | #5 | $69.36 | 710 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49.57 | $47.85 | #4 | $59.69 | 7,930 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $46.04 | $41.44 | #10 | $61.74 | 4,860 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45.72 | $42.14 | #8 | $65.18 | 630 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45.70 | $40.59 | #15 | $74.06 | 11,430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $44.66 | $39.31 | #20 | $62.85 | 8,780 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44.06 | $41.29 | #11 | $63.10 | 2,920 |
| Evansville, IN | $40.63 | $44.40 | #6 | $45.24 | 510 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $40.23 | $35.95 | #31 | $65.42 | 3,130 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $40.07 | $38.23 | #21 | $50.12 | 4,270 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $40.05 | $36.24 | #28 | $63.40 | 780 |
| Madison, WI | $39.93 | $41.04 | #13 | $49.26 | 680 |
Metros with at least 500 heavy equipment operators. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 158 metros with a parity.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for heavy equipment operators in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 100% | $97.63 | — | 21/21 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $93.34 | — | 5/5 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $90.88 | — | 14/14 |
| New York | 72% | $90.85 | $68.14 | 61/62 |
| Alaska | 100% | $88.55 | — | 30/30 |
| California | 90% | $84.41 | $33.87 | 58/58 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $81.72 | — | 7/8 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $78.52 | — | 5/5 |
| Wisconsin | 28% | $77.17 | $25.06 | 72/72 |
| Illinois | 100% | $75.85 | — | 102/102 |
| Indiana | 90% | $74.80 | $16.85 | 92/92 |
| Oregon | 92% | $71.65 | $53.91 | 36/36 |
| Missouri | 58% | $69.44 | $31.12 | 115/115 |
| Kansas | 5% | $67.90 | $17.67 | 105/105 |
| West Virginia | 80% | $67.26 | $28.87 | 55/55 |
| Washington | 49% | $66.79 | $35.83 | 39/39 |
| Michigan | 75% | $66.53 | $30.07 | 83/83 |
| Pennsylvania | 75% | $65.74 | $44.01 | 67/67 |
| Ohio | 32% | $60.55 | $39.87 | 88/88 |
| Kentucky | 1% | $60.25 | $35.16 | 120/120 |
| Iowa | 10% | $57.35 | $41.11 | 99/99 |
| Idaho | 23% | $52.91 | $25.17 | 43/44 |
| Montana | 4% | $49.08 | $28.55 | 56/56 |
| Oklahoma | 13% | $47.82 | $20.08 | 77/77 |
| Tennessee | 58% | $46.63 | $24.50 | 95/95 |
| Alabama | 9% | $46.62 | $32.26 | 67/67 |
| Florida | 9% | $41.90 | $16.98 | 67/67 |
| Georgia | 25% | $41.77 | $15.75 | 159/159 |
| New Mexico | 3% | $36.08 | $26.43 | 33/33 |
| Arkansas | 0% | — | $23.08 | 75/75 |
| Arizona | 0% | — | $23.37 | 15/15 |
| Colorado | 0% | — | $13.41 | 64/64 |
| Delaware | 0% | — | $48.10 | 3/3 |
| Louisiana | 0% | — | $20.34 | 64/64 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $47.30 | 24/24 |
| Maine | 0% | — | $23.54 | 16/16 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $82.86 | 87/87 |
| Mississippi | 0% | — | $19.32 | 82/82 |
| North Carolina | 0% | — | $19.05 | 100/100 |
| North Dakota | 0% | — | $26.48 | 53/53 |
| Nebraska | 0% | — | $24.04 | 93/93 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | — | $24.69 | 10/10 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $83.63 | 17/17 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $18.34 | 46/46 |
| South Dakota | 0% | — | $19.34 | 66/66 |
| Texas | 0% | — | $13.75 | 254/254 |
| Utah | 0% | — | $17.38 | 29/29 |
| Virginia | 0% | — | $17.11 | 131/133 |
| Vermont | 0% | — | $16.40 | 3/14 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $34.28 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects the number of heavy equipment operators to change by +4.6% over 2025-35, from 489,500 to 511,800, with about 39,200 openings a year.
Of those openings, 2,200 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 37,000 from replacement: 14,800 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 22,200 for people who move to another occupation.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: high school diploma or equivalent; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Arizona projects the fastest growth for heavy equipment operators at +17.3%; by openings, Texas (5,370 a year), California (3,340 a year), Florida (3,040 a year) lead. 51 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 14,180 | 16,640 | +17.3% | 1,490 |
| Colorado | 12,390 | 14,380 | +16.1% | 1,280 |
| Idaho | 5,680 | 6,520 | +14.9% | 580 |
| Rhode Island | 870 | 990 | +13.4% | 90 |
| Florida | 30,700 | 34,710 | +13.1% | 3,040 |
| Tennessee | 10,630 | 11,940 | +12.3% | 1,040 |
| South Dakota | 2,360 | 2,630 | +11.5% | 230 |
| Nevada | 5,630 | 6,270 | +11.3% | 540 |
| Utah | 6,430 | 7,140 | +11.1% | 620 |
| Texas | 56,600 | 62,400 | +10.3% | 5,370 |
| New Mexico | 5,180 | 5,600 | +8.2% | 480 |
| Wisconsin | 8,250 | 8,920 | +8.1% | 760 |
| Virginia | 11,530 | 12,460 | +8.0% | 1,100 |
| Washington | 9,600 | 10,330 | +7.6% | 950 |
| South Carolina | 8,140 | 8,760 | +7.5% | 740 |
| Arkansas | 5,850 | 6,280 | +7.4% | 530 |
| Oregon | 5,650 | 6,070 | +7.4% | 510 |
| California | 36,900 | 39,500 | +7.0% | 3,340 |
| Georgia | 15,960 | 17,050 | +6.8% | 1,440 |
| North Dakota | 4,770 | 5,100 | +6.8% | 430 |
| Connecticut | 2,900 | 3,090 | +6.6% | 260 |
| Alabama | 9,850 | 10,480 | +6.4% | 880 |
| Massachusetts | 10,360 | 11,010 | +6.3% | 930 |
| West Virginia | 7,720 | 8,200 | +6.2% | 690 |
| Minnesota | 8,220 | 8,720 | +6.1% | 730 |
| Nebraska | 3,230 | 3,420 | +6.1% | 290 |
| Mississippi | 4,380 | 4,640 | +5.8% | 390 |
| Delaware | 1,290 | 1,360 | +5.7% | 110 |
| Iowa | 5,490 | 5,800 | +5.7% | 480 |
| New Hampshire | 1,560 | 1,650 | +5.4% | 140 |
| Maryland | 6,820 | 7,180 | +5.3% | 600 |
| District of Columbia | 520 | 550 | +5.2% | 50 |
| North Carolina | 16,450 | 17,250 | +4.9% | 1,440 |
| Wyoming | 3,970 | 4,160 | +4.7% | 350 |
| Montana | 3,910 | 4,090 | +4.6% | 340 |
| New Jersey | 6,660 | 6,970 | +4.6% | 580 |
| Illinois | 11,720 | 12,250 | +4.5% | 1,020 |
| Hawaii | 1,870 | 1,950 | +4.3% | 160 |
| Louisiana | 7,630 | 7,960 | +4.3% | 660 |
| Missouri | 10,950 | 11,390 | +4.0% | 940 |
| Oklahoma | 7,080 | 7,360 | +3.8% | 610 |
| Vermont | 1,200 | 1,240 | +3.4% | 100 |
| Indiana | 11,560 | 11,940 | +3.3% | 980 |
| Ohio | 16,800 | 17,220 | +2.5% | 1,410 |
| Kentucky | 7,320 | 7,500 | +2.4% | 610 |
| Michigan | 9,640 | 9,870 | +2.4% | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | 21,680 | 22,190 | +2.4% | 1,820 |
| Kansas | 7,090 | 7,230 | +2.0% | 590 |
| New York | 16,020 | 15,980 | -0.3% | 1,280 |
| Alaska | 3,320 | 3,270 | -1.6% | 260 |
| Maine | 2,030 | 1,950 | -4.1% | 150 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare heavy equipment operator pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $20.28 at the 10th percentile to $48.60 at the 90th, with a median of $28.78. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice heavy equipment operator make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $20.28 to $23.40 an hour ($42,190 to $48,680 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays heavy equipment operators the most?
Hawaii had the highest median at $55.70 an hour in May 2025, followed by Illinois ($46.99) and New Jersey ($43.11). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are heavy equipment operator wages going up?
In today's dollars the median heavy equipment operator wage changed by -1.2% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $21.44 to $28.78.
Is heavy equipment operator a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $59,850 a year, a 90th percentile of $101,090, projected growth of +4.6% and about 39,200 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Are heavy equipment operator jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 478,090 heavy equipment operators in May 2025, +34.6% compared with ten years earlier and +17.8% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +4.6% growth over 2025-35 with about 39,200 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most heavy equipment operators?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put Texas (5,370 a year, +10.3% growth), California (3,340 a year, +7.0% growth), Florida (3,040 a year, +13.1% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are heavy equipment operators most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, Wyoming has the highest concentration at 4.4× the national share, then North Dakota (3.7×) and West Virginia (3.6×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2073 (Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.