Heavy equipment operator salary in District of Columbia
Median $35.87 an hour for 620 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Heavy equipment operator pay in District of Columbia: the full range
District of Columbia ranks 13th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.64). 620 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $24.30 – $31.47 | $50,540 – $65,450 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $31.47 – $41.48 | $65,450 – $86,280 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $41.48 – $47.25 | $86,280 – $98,270 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in District of Columbia
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $22.39 | $29.64 | $40.47 | 6,450 | 17% below |
Heavy equipment operator wages in District of Columbia over time
Table
| Year | District of Columbia $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.79 | $34.38 | $15.31 | — |
| 2000 | $17.93 | $33.52 | $15.99 | 490 |
| 2001 | $18.41 | $33.47 | $16.42 | 440 |
| 2002 | $19.53 | $34.95 | $16.94 | 660 |
| 2003 | $20.10 | $35.17 | $16.84 | 860 |
| 2004 | $18.47 | $31.48 | $17.00 | 690 |
| 2005 | $19.76 | $32.57 | $17.23 | 520 |
| 2006 | $20.37 | $32.53 | $17.74 | 490 |
| 2007 | $23.72 | $36.83 | $18.33 | 260 |
| 2008 | $23.78 | $35.56 | $18.88 | 180 |
| 2009 | $24.10 | $36.17 | $19.12 | 200 |
| 2010 | $25.74 | $38.00 | $19.42 | 260 |
| 2011 | $26.46 | $37.87 | $19.96 | 310 |
| 2012 | $26.48 | $37.13 | $20.13 | 360 |
| 2013 | $26.03 | $35.97 | $20.45 | 380 |
| 2014 | $25.74 | $35.00 | $20.92 | 470 |
| 2015 | $27.08 | $36.78 | $21.44 | 550 |
| 2016 | $29.08 | $39.01 | $22.06 | 570 |
| 2017 | $29.89 | $39.26 | $22.61 | 450 |
| 2018 | $28.79 | $36.91 | $22.98 | 440 |
| 2019 | $28.85 | $36.33 | $23.55 | 550 |
| 2020 | $29.49 | $36.68 | $23.93 | 510 |
| 2021 | $28.66 | $34.05 | $23.25 | 660 |
| 2022 | $30.20 | $33.22 | $24.73 | 510 |
| 2023 | $31.85 | $33.65 | $27.00 | 490 |
| 2024 | $33.20 | $34.07 | $28.23 | 560 |
| 2025 | $35.87 | $35.87 | $28.78 | 620 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in District of Columbia changed by -2.5% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in District of Columbia?
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.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 8,078 | $90,639 | $1,743 |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in District of Columbia
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in District of Columbia?
The median heavy equipment operator in District of Columbia earned $35.87 an hour ($74,610 a year) in May 2025, 25% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $31.47–$41.48; the top 10% earn more than $47.25.
Where does District of Columbia rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
District of Columbia ranks 13th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $35.87 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for District of Columbia's cost of living (BEA price parity 109.9, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in District of Columbia?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most District of Columbia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in District of Columbia?
BLS counted 620 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in District of Columbia in May 2025, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.29; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, District of Columbia and metro areas, SOC 47-2073.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.