Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Colorado

Median $30.11 an hour for 11,700 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.11/hrMedian hourly wageColorado, May data
$62,620/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.79 – $37.9210th to 90th percentilehourly range
11,700Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Heavy equipment operator pay in Colorado: the full range

Wage percentiles, ColoradoMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrColorado: 10th $23.79 · 25th $27.74 · median $30.11 · 75th $35.42 · 90th $37.92Colorado$30.11$23.79$37.92United 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: Colorado vs United States, May 2025.

Colorado ranks 20th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 30th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.20). 11,700 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$23.79 – $27.74$49,480 – $57,700roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$27.74 – $35.42$57,700 – $73,670the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$35.42 – $37.92$73,670 – $78,870the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Colorado

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrBoulder: $34.16Boulder$34.16Fort Collins: $31.08Fort Collins$31.08Denver: $30.81Denver$30.81Colorado Springs: $29.64Colorado Springs$29.64Pueblo: $29.39Pueblo$29.39Greeley: $29.18Greeley$29.18Grand Junction: $27.74Grand Junction$27.74
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Colorado, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Boulder$24.25$34.16$32.47$44.8919013% above
Fort Collins$24.53$31.08$30.74$37.566003% above
Denver$25.23$30.81$29.12$38.425,1502% above
Colorado Springs$23.74$29.64$29.43$37.381,0302% below
Pueblo$22.78$29.39$32.02$35.973102% below
Greeley$24.05$29.18$29.12$35.411,5503% below
Grand Junction$22.90$27.74$29.05$34.173908% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Colorado over time

Colorado, 1999-2025ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.11Colorado$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Colorado vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearColorado $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.46$31.81$15.318,310
2000$17.32$32.38$15.999,330
2001$17.45$31.72$16.428,460
2002$18.16$32.50$16.948,830
2003$18.07$31.62$16.848,910
2004$17.89$30.49$17.008,070
2005$18.46$30.43$17.238,770
2006$19.00$30.34$17.749,110
2007$19.86$30.84$18.339,460
2008$20.01$29.92$18.889,460
2009$20.33$30.51$19.128,890
2010$20.04$29.59$19.427,020
2011$20.67$29.58$19.966,740
2012$20.47$28.70$20.136,650
2013$20.36$28.14$20.457,480
2014$20.56$27.96$20.928,440
2015$21.55$29.27$21.448,870
2016$22.78$30.56$22.069,250
2017$23.24$30.52$22.619,950
2018$23.78$30.49$22.9811,290
2019$24.10$30.35$23.5510,970
2020$24.66$30.68$23.9312,110
2021$23.49$27.91$23.2511,310
2022$26.22$28.84$24.7312,040
2023$28.57$30.19$27.0011,920
2024$29.60$30.38$28.2312,050
2025$30.11$30.11$28.7811,700

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Colorado changed by +2.9% over the last ten years of data and by -0.8% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Colorado?

+6.7%Jobs since 201910,970 then, 11,700 in 2025
+31.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 16th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Colorado has changed by +40.8%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +6.7%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Colorado vs United States, 1999 = 100ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025147United States141Colorado
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Colorado vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearColorado jobsColorado indexUS index
19998,310100100
20009,330112103
20018,460102109
20028,830106106
20038,910107106
20048,07097110
20058,770106117
20069,110110121
20079,460114124
20089,460114123
20098,890107114
20107,02084103
20116,74081103
20126,65080103
20137,48090105
20148,440102106
20158,870107110
20169,250111110
20179,950120113
201811,290136118
201910,970132125
202012,110146124
202111,310136125
202212,040145130
202311,920143139
202412,050145145
202511,700141147

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 Colorado

+16.1%Projected growth in Colorado2024–2034, state agency
1,280Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
12,390Jobs in 202414,380 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Colorado's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +16.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 12,390 to 14,380, with about 1,280 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 11,700 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Colorado 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 Colorado

On federally funded construction in Colorado, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 64 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $13.41). 64 of the 64 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adams County at $26.56). The market median for the state is $30.11.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, COAdams: $26.56 (survey)Alamosa: $13.41 (survey)Arapahoe: $26.56 (survey)Archuleta: $13.41 (survey)Baca: $13.41 (survey)Bent: $13.41 (survey)Boulder: $26.56 (survey)Broomfield: $26.56 (survey)Chaffee: $13.41 (survey)Cheyenne: $13.41 (survey)Clear Creek: $26.56 (survey)Conejos: $13.41 (survey)Costilla: $13.41 (survey)Crowley: $13.41 (survey)Custer: $13.41 (survey)Delta: $13.41 (survey)Denver: $26.56 (survey)Dolores: $13.41 (survey)Douglas: $26.56 (survey)Eagle: $13.41 (survey)Elbert: $26.56 (survey)El Paso: $28.88 (survey)Fremont: $13.41 (survey)Garfield: $13.41 (survey)Gilpin: $26.56 (survey)Grand: $13.41 (survey)Gunnison: $13.41 (survey)Hinsdale: $13.41 (survey)Huerfano: $13.41 (survey)Jackson: $13.41 (survey)Jefferson: $26.56 (survey)Kiowa: $13.41 (survey)Kit Carson: $13.41 (survey)Lake: $13.41 (survey)La Plata: $13.41 (survey)Larimer: $26.56 (survey)Las Animas: $13.41 (survey)Lincoln: $13.41 (survey)Logan: $13.41 (survey)Mesa: $26.56 (survey)Mineral: $13.41 (survey)Moffat: $13.41 (survey)Montezuma: $13.41 (survey)Montrose: $13.41 (survey)Morgan: $13.41 (survey)Otero: $13.41 (survey)Ouray: $13.41 (survey)Park: $26.56 (survey)Phillips: $13.41 (survey)Pitkin: $13.41 (survey)Prowers: $13.41 (survey)Pueblo: $28.88 (survey)Rio Blanco: $13.41 (survey)Rio Grande: $13.41 (survey)Routt: $13.41 (survey)Saguache: $13.41 (survey)San Juan: $13.41 (survey)San Miguel: $13.41 (survey)Sedgwick: $13.41 (survey)Summit: $13.41 (survey)Teller: $28.88 (survey)Washington: $13.41 (survey)Weld: $26.56 (survey)Yuma: $13.41 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$26.56survey 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)$25$27.50$30$32.50$35/hrPueblo (Pueblo): market median $29.39, prevailing (survey) $28.88, gap −$0.51Pueblo (Pueblo)−$0.51El Paso (Colorado Springs): market median $29.64, prevailing (survey) $28.88, gap −$0.76El Paso (Colorado Springs)−$0.76Mesa (Grand Junction): market median $27.74, prevailing (survey) $26.56, gap −$1.18Mesa (Grand Junction)−$1.18Weld (Greeley): market median $29.18, prevailing (survey) $26.56, gap −$2.62Weld (Greeley)−$2.62Adams (Denver): market median $30.81, prevailing (survey) $26.56, gap −$4.25Adams (Denver)−$4.25Larimer (Fort Collins): market median $31.08, prevailing (survey) $26.56, gap −$4.52Larimer (Fort Collins)−$4.52Boulder (Boulder): market median $34.16, prevailing (survey) $26.56, gap −$7.60Boulder (Boulder)−$7.60
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Colorado.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
El PasoSurvey SUCO2013-008 2015-07-31$20.26$8.62$28.88CO20260022
PuebloSurvey SUCO2013-013 2015-07-31$20.26$8.62$28.88CO20260027
TellerSurvey SUCO2013-014 2015-07-31$20.26$8.62$28.88CO20260028
AdamsSurvey SUCO2013-001 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260015
ArapahoeSurvey SUCO2013-002 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260016
BoulderSurvey SUCO2013-003 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260017
BroomfieldSurvey SUCO2013-004 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260018
Clear CreekSurvey SUCO2013-005 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260019
DenverSurvey SUCO2013-006 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260020
DouglasSurvey SUCO2013-007 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260021
ElbertSurvey SUCO2013-016 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260030
GilpinSurvey SUCO2013-016 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260030
JeffersonSurvey SUCO2013-009 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260023
LarimerSurvey SUCO2013-010 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260024
MesaSurvey SUCO2013-011 2015-07-31$20.78$5.78$26.56CO20260025

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Colorado prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Colorado?

193.6kConstruction jobsColorado, 2026-09
+3.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025194kSep 2026
Construction employment in Colorado (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 48 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 96,806 in 2015 to 118,768 in 2025, +22.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Denver County1,21413,814$88,160$1,695
Jefferson County1,48012,463$84,364$1,622
Adams County1,52619,605$83,598$1,608
Arapahoe County1,45314,058$82,624$1,589
Douglas County7356,506$80,059$1,540
Eagle County4272,741$77,396$1,488
Boulder County4593,183$75,142$1,445
Broomfield County132826$73,547$1,414
Summit County209938$73,255$1,409
Grand County114541$72,999$1,404
Weld County9497,458$72,660$1,397
Larimer County9327,322$72,635$1,397

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Colorado

More on Colorado

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Colorado?

The median heavy equipment operator in Colorado earned $30.11 an hour ($62,620 a year) in May 2025, 5% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $27.74–$35.42; the top 10% earn more than $37.92.

Where does Colorado rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Colorado ranks 20th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $30.11 an hour, and 30th after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.1, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Colorado?

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

How many heavy equipment operators work in Colorado?

BLS counted 11,700 heavy equipment operators in Colorado in May 2025, 4.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.32; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Colorado?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Colorado went from 8,870 in 2015 to 11,700 in 2025, +31.9%, and +6.7% since 2019. Colorado's labor market agency projects +16.1% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 12,390 to 14,380 jobs.

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

Colorado projects about 1,280 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, Colorado 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Colorado labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.