Heavy equipment operator salary: what heavy equipment operators actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 478,090 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn: the full range
The middle half of operating engineers and other construction 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.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $20.28 – $23.40 | $42,190 – $48,680 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.40 – $37.10 | $48,680 – $77,170 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $37.10 – $48.60 | $77,170 – $101,090 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
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.
Highest-paying metros for heavy equipment operators
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59.97 | $71.76 | 4,080 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59.78 | $73.44 | 1,360 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $56.55 | $62.10 | 1,430 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50.52 | $69.36 | 710 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49.57 | $59.69 | 7,930 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $46.04 | $61.74 | 4,860 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45.72 | $65.18 | 630 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45.70 | $74.06 | 11,430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $44.66 | $62.85 | 8,780 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44.06 | $63.10 | 2,920 |
| Evansville, IN | $40.63 | $45.24 | 510 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $40.23 | $65.42 | 3,130 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $40.07 | $50.12 | 4,270 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $40.05 | $63.40 | 780 |
| Madison, WI | $39.93 | $49.26 | 680 |
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% | $84.83 | — | 30/30 |
| California | 90% | $84.41 | $33.87 | 58/58 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $81.72 | — | 7/17 |
| 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% | — | $79.63 | 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 | 102/133 |
| 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 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators employment to change by +4.6% over 2025-35, with about 39,200 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Compare heavy equipment operator pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
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.
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.
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.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.