Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Arkansas

Median $21.41 an hour for 5,800 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$21.41/hrMedian hourly wageArkansas, May data
$44,520/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.08 – $28.2110th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,800Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Heavy equipment operator pay in Arkansas: the full range

Wage percentiles, ArkansasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrArkansas: 10th $17.08 · 25th $18.44 · median $21.41 · 75th $23.97 · 90th $28.21Arkansas$21.41$17.08$28.21United States: 10th $20.28 · 25th $23.40 · median $28.78 · 75th $37.10 · 90th $48.60United States$28.78
Hourly wage percentiles for heavy equipment operators: Arkansas vs United States, May 2025.

Arkansas ranks 51st of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 49th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.64). 5,800 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.08 – $18.44$35,520 – $38,350roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$18.44 – $23.97$38,350 – $49,860the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$23.97 – $28.21$49,860 – $58,670the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Arkansas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrMemphis: $25.90Memphis$25.90Fayetteville: $24.08Fayetteville$24.08Texarkana: $22.50Texarkana$22.50Little Rock: $22.25Little Rock$22.25Jonesboro: $21.92Jonesboro$21.92Fort Smith: $20.11Fort Smith$20.11Hot Springs: $18.15Hot Springs$18.15
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Arkansas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Memphis$19.50$25.90$28.09$35.001,14021% above
Fayetteville$18.53$24.08$26.35$28.8590012% above
Texarkana$18.28$22.50$26.79$29.362805% above
Little Rock$18.18$22.25$24.89$28.261,2304% above
Jonesboro$15.03$21.92$25.52$27.032402% above
Fort Smith$17.06$20.11$23.41$23.644406% below
Hot Springs$14.36$18.15$21.18$26.1925015% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Heavy equipment operator wages in Arkansas over time

Arkansas, 1999-2025ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$21.41Arkansas
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Arkansas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearArkansas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$10.63$20.54$15.313,370
2000$11.76$21.99$15.993,170
2001$12.19$22.16$16.423,590
2002$12.37$22.14$16.943,580
2003$12.51$21.89$16.843,720
2004$12.45$21.22$17.003,160
2005$12.50$20.61$17.233,660
2006$13.18$21.05$17.743,440
2007$13.53$21.01$18.334,480
2008$14.22$21.26$18.884,610
2009$14.26$21.40$19.124,670
2010$14.45$21.33$19.424,350
2011$14.55$20.82$19.964,060
2012$15.09$21.16$20.134,220
2013$15.79$21.82$20.453,950
2014$15.69$21.34$20.924,000
2015$16.11$21.88$21.443,590
2016$16.15$21.66$22.063,420
2017$17.03$22.37$22.613,890
2018$17.14$21.98$22.983,630
2019$17.70$22.29$23.553,800
2020$17.95$22.33$23.933,540
2021$18.01$21.40$23.254,550
2022$18.71$20.58$24.735,020
2023$20.54$21.70$27.005,310
2024$21.71$22.28$28.235,550
2025$21.41$21.41$28.785,800

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Arkansas changed by -2.2% over the last ten years of data and by -3.9% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Arkansas?

+52.6%Jobs since 20193,800 then, 5,800 in 2025
+61.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.4× the US share, 12th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Arkansas has changed by +72.1%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +52.6%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Arkansas vs United States, 1999 = 100ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages75100125150175200200020052010201520202025172Arkansas147United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Arkansas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearArkansas jobsArkansas indexUS index
19993,370100100
20003,17094103
20013,590106109
20023,580106106
20033,720110106
20043,16094110
20053,660109117
20063,440102121
20074,480133124
20084,610137123
20094,670139114
20104,350129103
20114,060120103
20124,220125103
20133,950117105
20144,000119106
20153,590106110
20163,420102110
20173,890115113
20183,630108118
20193,800113125
20203,540105124
20214,550135125
20225,020149130
20235,310158139
20245,550165145
20255,800172147

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.

Outlook for heavy equipment operators in Arkansas

+7.4%Projected growth in Arkansas2024–2034, state agency
530Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,850Jobs in 20246,280 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Arkansas's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +7.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,850 to 6,280, with about 530 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,800 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Arkansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Arkansas

On federally funded construction in Arkansas, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 75 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $23.08). 75 of the 75 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Arkansas County at $22.92). The market median for the state is $21.41.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ARArkansas: $22.92 (survey)Ashley: $22.92 (survey)Baxter: $23.08 (survey)Benton: $15.89 (survey)Boone: $23.08 (survey)Bradley: $22.92 (survey)Calhoun: $23.95 (survey)Carroll: $23.08 (survey)Chicot: $22.92 (survey)Clark: $23.95 (survey)Clay: $23.08 (survey)Cleburne: $23.08 (survey)Cleveland: $23.17 (survey)Columbia: $23.95 (survey)Conway: $23.08 (survey)Craighead: $22.75 (survey)Crawford: $19.10 (survey)Crittenden: $23.17 (survey)Cross: $23.08 (survey)Dallas: $23.95 (survey)Desha: $22.92 (survey)Drew: $22.92 (survey)Faulkner: $28.21 (survey)Franklin: $23.08 (survey)Fulton: $23.08 (survey)Garland: $27.57 (survey)Grant: $28.21 (survey)Greene: $23.08 (survey)Hempstead: $23.95 (survey)Hot Spring: $23.95 (survey)Howard: $23.95 (survey)Independence: $23.08 (survey)Izard: $23.08 (survey)Jackson: $23.08 (survey)Jefferson: $23.17 (survey)Johnson: $23.08 (survey)Lafayette: $23.95 (survey)Lawrence: $23.08 (survey)Lee: $23.08 (survey)Lincoln: $23.17 (survey)Little River: $23.17 (survey)Logan: $23.08 (survey)Lonoke: $28.21 (survey)Madison: $19.69 (survey)Marion: $23.08 (survey)Miller: $23.17 (survey)Mississippi: $23.08 (survey)Monroe: $23.08 (survey)Montgomery: $23.95 (survey)Nevada: $23.95 (survey)Newton: $23.08 (survey)Ouachita: $23.95 (survey)Perry: $28.21 (survey)Phillips: $22.92 (survey)Pike: $23.95 (survey)Poinsett: $22.75 (survey)Polk: $23.08 (survey)Pope: $23.08 (survey)Prairie: $22.92 (survey)Pulaski: $28.21 (survey)Randolph: $23.08 (survey)St. Francis: $23.08 (survey)Saline: $28.21 (survey)Scott: $23.08 (survey)Searcy: $23.08 (survey)Sebastian: $19.10 (survey)Sevier: $23.95 (survey)Sharp: $23.08 (survey)Stone: $23.08 (survey)Union: $23.95 (survey)Van Buren: $23.08 (survey)Washington: $22.32 (survey)White: $23.08 (survey)Woodruff: $23.08 (survey)Yell: $23.08 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$23.05$23.08$23.95survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for heavy equipment operators by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (survey)$15$20$25$30/hrGarland (Hot Springs): market median $18.15, prevailing (survey) $27.57, gap +$9.42Garland (Hot Springs)+$9.42Faulkner (Little Rock): market median $22.25, prevailing (survey) $28.21, gap +$5.96Faulkner (Little Rock)+$5.96Craighead (Jonesboro): market median $21.92, prevailing (survey) $22.75, gap +$0.83Craighead (Jonesboro)+$0.83Little River (Texarkana): market median $22.50, prevailing (survey) $23.17, gap +$0.67Little River (Texarkana)+$0.67Crawford (Fort Smith): market median $20.11, prevailing (survey) $19.10, gap −$1.01Crawford (Fort Smith)−$1.01Washington (Fayetteville): market median $24.08, prevailing (survey) $22.32, gap −$1.76Washington (Fayetteville)−$1.76Crittenden (Memphis): market median $25.90, prevailing (survey) $23.17, gap −$2.73Crittenden (Memphis)−$2.73
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Arkansas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
FaulknerSurvey SUAR2015-024 2017-01-09$28.21$0.00$28.21AR20260027
GrantSurvey SUAR2015-034 2017-01-09$28.21$0.00$28.21AR20260037
LonokeSurvey SUAR2015-026 2017-01-09$28.21$0.00$28.21AR20260029
PerrySurvey SUAR2015-034 2017-01-09$28.21$0.00$28.21AR20260037
PulaskiSurvey SUAR2015-029 2017-01-09$28.21$0.00$28.21AR20260032
SalineSurvey SUAR2015-030 2017-01-09$28.21$0.00$28.21AR20260033
GarlandSurvey SUAR2015-025 2017-01-09$27.57$0.00$27.57AR20260028
CalhounSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$23.95$0.00$23.95AR20260020
ClarkSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$23.95$0.00$23.95AR20260020
ColumbiaSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$23.95$0.00$23.95AR20260020
DallasSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$23.95$0.00$23.95AR20260020
HempsteadSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$23.95$0.00$23.95AR20260020
Hot SpringSurvey SUAR2015-003 2017-01-09$23.95$0.00$23.95AR20260006
HowardSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$23.95$0.00$23.95AR20260020
LafayetteSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$23.95$0.00$23.95AR20260020

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Arkansas prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Arkansas?

68.0kConstruction jobsArkansas, 2026-09
+1.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202568kSep 2026
Construction employment in Arkansas (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just heavy equipment operators), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 60 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 28,946 in 2015 to 39,465 in 2025, +36.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Mississippi County32932$85,257$1,640
Union County46648$82,147$1,580
Lawrence County20128$80,802$1,554
Grant County39319$79,574$1,530
Pulaski County6116,605$70,446$1,355
Greene County50371$66,953$1,288
Washington County4775,917$66,623$1,281
Craighead County1931,879$65,719$1,264
Benton County6525,746$65,634$1,262
Conway County42444$64,241$1,235
Little River County827$63,193$1,215
Pope County110661$62,920$1,210

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Arkansas

More on Arkansas

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Arkansas?

The median heavy equipment operator in Arkansas earned $21.41 an hour ($44,520 a year) in May 2025, 26% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $18.44–$23.97; the top 10% earn more than $28.21.

Where does Arkansas rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Arkansas ranks 51st of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $21.41 an hour, and 49th after adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (BEA price parity 86.9, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Arkansas?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Arkansas counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Arkansas?

BLS counted 5,800 heavy equipment operators in Arkansas in May 2025, 4.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.45; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Arkansas?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Arkansas went from 3,590 in 2015 to 5,800 in 2025, +61.6%, and +52.6% since 2019. Arkansas's labor market agency projects +7.4% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 5,850 to 6,280 jobs.

How many heavy equipment operator openings a year are there in Arkansas?

Arkansas projects about 530 openings a year for heavy equipment operators over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 39,200 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Arkansas and metro areas, SOC 47-2073. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Arkansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.