Heavy equipment operator salary in Florida
Median $23.75 an hour for 27,510 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
$23.75/hrMedian hourly wageFlorida, May data
$49,400/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.66 – $30.7810th to 90th percentilehourly range
27,510Jobs countedemployer survey
Heavy equipment operator pay in Florida: the full range
Florida ranks 44th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 51st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.97). 27,510 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.66 – $22.27 | $38,820 – $46,330 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.27 – $28.06 | $46,330 – $58,360 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.06 – $30.78 | $58,360 – $64,020 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Florida
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | $19.33 | $24.91 | $34.23 | 5,850 | 5% above |
| Naples | $19.45 | $24.54 | $31.49 | 680 | 3% above |
| Orlando | $18.88 | $24.53 | $30.68 | 4,330 | 3% above |
| Tampa | $19.42 | $24.18 | $35.25 | 3,980 | 2% above |
| Vero Beach | $19.81 | $23.90 | $29.00 | 120 | 1% above |
| Sarasota | $19.08 | $23.78 | $30.04 | 1,090 | about the same as |
| Cape Coral | $19.00 | $23.72 | $30.43 | 1,160 | about the same as |
| Palm Bay | $19.02 | $23.62 | $30.74 | 620 | 1% below |
| Jacksonville | $18.89 | $23.52 | $31.09 | 1,990 | 1% below |
| Punta Gorda | $19.19 | $23.49 | $29.75 | 200 | 1% below |
| Fort Walton Beach | $19.07 | $23.39 | $34.34 | 390 | 2% below |
| Panama City | $17.88 | $23.38 | $29.74 | 500 | 2% below |
| Port St. Lucie | $18.89 | $23.37 | $30.14 | 610 | 2% below |
| Gainesville | $17.67 | $23.17 | $28.86 | 300 | 2% below |
| Lakeland | $18.00 | $23.03 | $31.65 | 820 | 3% below |
| Pensacola | $18.52 | $23.01 | $29.27 | 600 | 3% below |
| Daytona Beach | $17.95 | $22.57 | $28.39 | 730 | 5% below |
| Sebring | $17.21 | $22.48 | $29.67 | 70 | 5% below |
| Tallahassee | $17.74 | $22.37 | $28.17 | 490 | 6% below |
| Ocala | $17.56 | $22.35 | $28.69 | 460 | 6% below |
| Wildwood | $16.01 | $22.14 | $28.57 | 410 | 7% below |
| Homosassa Springs | $18.10 | $21.95 | $27.28 | 220 | 8% below |
Heavy equipment operator wages in Florida over time
Table
| Year | Florida $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.56 | $22.34 | $15.31 | 17,480 |
| 2000 | $12.19 | $22.79 | $15.99 | 18,820 |
| 2001 | $12.69 | $23.07 | $16.42 | 19,360 |
| 2002 | $13.17 | $23.57 | $16.94 | 19,600 |
| 2003 | $13.23 | $23.15 | $16.84 | 20,310 |
| 2004 | $13.59 | $23.16 | $17.00 | 20,880 |
| 2005 | $14.14 | $23.31 | $17.23 | 23,370 |
| 2006 | $14.53 | $23.20 | $17.74 | 23,190 |
| 2007 | $15.24 | $23.66 | $18.33 | 22,020 |
| 2008 | $15.64 | $23.39 | $18.88 | 19,540 |
| 2009 | $16.11 | $24.18 | $19.12 | 17,160 |
| 2010 | $16.32 | $24.10 | $19.42 | 13,570 |
| 2011 | $16.93 | $24.23 | $19.96 | 12,820 |
| 2012 | $16.59 | $23.26 | $20.13 | 11,840 |
| 2013 | $16.48 | $22.78 | $20.45 | 13,030 |
| 2014 | $16.47 | $22.40 | $20.92 | 13,120 |
| 2015 | $16.75 | $22.75 | $21.44 | 14,160 |
| 2016 | $17.44 | $23.39 | $22.06 | 15,450 |
| 2017 | $17.75 | $23.31 | $22.61 | 15,590 |
| 2018 | $18.07 | $23.17 | $22.98 | 18,720 |
| 2019 | $18.53 | $23.33 | $23.55 | 21,050 |
| 2020 | $18.82 | $23.41 | $23.93 | 22,490 |
| 2021 | $18.62 | $22.12 | $23.25 | 20,570 |
| 2022 | $21.74 | $23.92 | $24.73 | 27,730 |
| 2023 | $22.72 | $24.01 | $27.00 | 27,540 |
| 2024 | $23.45 | $24.07 | $28.23 | 29,420 |
| 2025 | $23.75 | $23.75 | $28.78 | 27,510 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Florida changed by +4.4% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Florida
On federally funded construction in Florida, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 6 of the 67 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $41.90 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $16.98). 61 of the 67 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Alachua County at $15.84). The market median for the state is $23.75.
Union contract rateSurvey rate
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broward | Union ENGI0487-019 2023-07-01 | $27.00 | $14.90 | $41.90 | FL20260197 |
| Indian River | Union ENGI0487-019 2023-07-01 | $27.00 | $14.90 | $41.90 | FL20260209 |
| Martin | Union ENGI0487-019 2023-07-01 | $27.00 | $14.90 | $41.90 | FL20260214 |
| Miami-Dade | Union ENGI0487-019 2023-07-01 | $27.00 | $14.90 | $41.90 | FL20260215 |
| Palm Beach | Union ENGI0487-019 2023-07-01 | $27.00 | $14.90 | $41.90 | FL20260220 |
| St. Lucie | Union ENGI0487-019 2023-07-01 | $27.00 | $14.90 | $41.90 | FL20260228 |
| Bay | Survey SUFL2014-043 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260005 |
| Charlotte | Survey SUFL2014-006 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260198 |
| Citrus | Survey SUFL2014-007 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260199 |
| Collier | Survey SUFL2014-009 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260201 |
| Escambia | Survey SUFL2014-011 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260203 |
| Gadsden | Survey SUFL2014-012 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260204 |
| Gulf | Survey SUFL2014-043 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260005 |
| Hernando | Survey SUFL2014-015 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260206 |
| Hillsborough | Survey SUFL2014-017 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260208 |
| Jefferson | Survey SUFL2014-042 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260233 |
| Lee | Survey SUFL2014-020 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260211 |
| Leon | Survey SUFL2014-042 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260233 |
| Manatee | Survey SUFL2014-021 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260212 |
| Okaloosa | Survey SUFL2014-026 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260217 |
| Pasco | Survey SUFL2014-030 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260221 |
| Pinellas | Survey SUFL2014-031 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260222 |
| Santa Rosa | Survey SUFL2014-033 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260224 |
| Sarasota | Survey SUFL2014-034 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260225 |
| Wakulla | Survey SUFL2014-039 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260230 |
| Walton | Survey SUFL2014-040 2016-08-16 | $22.07 | $8.80 | $30.87 | FL20260231 |
| Brevard | Survey SUFL2014-004 2016-08-16 | $19.00 | $3.43 | $22.43 | FL20260196 |
| Lake | Survey SUFL2014-019 2016-08-16 | $19.00 | $3.43 | $22.43 | FL20260210 |
| Osceola | Survey SUFL2014-028 2016-08-16 | $19.00 | $3.43 | $22.43 | FL20260219 |
| Seminole | Survey SUFL2014-035 2016-08-16 | $19.00 | $3.43 | $22.43 | FL20260226 |
| Orange | Survey SUFL2014-027 2016-08-16 | $18.69 | $3.27 | $21.96 | FL20260218 |
| Flagler | Survey SUFL2014-041 2016-08-16 | $17.80 | $2.81 | $20.61 | FL20260232 |
| Highlands | Survey SUFL2014-016 2016-08-16 | $17.80 | $2.81 | $20.61 | FL20260207 |
| Polk | Survey SUFL2014-032 2016-08-16 | $17.80 | $2.81 | $20.61 | FL20260223 |
| Sumter | Survey SUFL2014-038 2016-08-16 | $17.80 | $2.81 | $20.61 | FL20260229 |
| Volusia | Survey SUFL2014-041 2016-08-16 | $17.80 | $2.81 | $20.61 | FL20260232 |
| DeSoto | Survey SUFL2009-043 2009-05-22 | $16.98 | $0.00 | $16.98 | FL20260009 |
| Glades | Survey SUFL2009-047 2009-05-22 | $16.98 | $0.00 | $16.98 | FL20260012 |
| Hardee | Survey SUFL2009-050 2009-05-22 | $16.98 | $0.00 | $16.98 | FL20260014 |
| Hendry | Survey SUFL2009-051 2009-05-22 | $16.98 | $0.00 | $16.98 | FL20260015 |
| Monroe | Survey SUFL2009-059 2009-05-22 | $16.98 | $0.00 | $16.98 | FL20260022 |
| Okeechobee | Survey SUFL2009-060 2009-05-22 | $16.98 | $0.00 | $16.98 | FL20260023 |
| Alachua | Survey SUFL2014-001 2016-08-16 | $14.44 | $1.40 | $15.84 | FL20260194 |
| Baker | Survey SUFL2014-002 2016-08-16 | $14.44 | $1.40 | $15.84 | FL20260195 |
| Clay | Survey SUFL2014-008 2016-08-16 | $14.44 | $1.40 | $15.84 | FL20260200 |
| Duval | Survey SUFL2014-010 2016-08-16 | $14.44 | $1.40 | $15.84 | FL20260202 |
| Gilchrist | Survey SUFL2014-013 2016-08-16 | $14.44 | $1.40 | $15.84 | FL20260205 |
| Marion | Survey SUFL2014-022 2016-08-16 | $14.44 | $1.40 | $15.84 | FL20260213 |
| Nassau | Survey SUFL2014-025 2016-08-16 | $14.44 | $1.40 | $15.84 | FL20260216 |
| St. Johns | Survey SUFL2014-036 2016-08-16 | $14.44 | $1.40 | $15.84 | FL20260227 |
| Bradford | Survey SUFL2009-039 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260006 |
| Columbia | Survey SUFL2009-042 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260008 |
| Dixie | Survey SUFL2009-044 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260010 |
| Hamilton | Survey SUFL2009-049 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260013 |
| Lafayette | Survey SUFL2009-055 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260018 |
| Levy | Survey SUFL2009-056 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260019 |
| Madison | Survey SUFL2009-058 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260021 |
| Putnam | Survey SUFL2009-061 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260024 |
| Suwannee | Survey SUFL2009-063 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260025 |
| Taylor | Survey SUFL2009-064 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260026 |
| Union | Survey SUFL2009-065 2009-05-22 | $13.19 | $0.00 | $13.19 | FL20260027 |
| Calhoun | Survey SUFL2009-040 2009-05-22 | $12.43 | $0.00 | $12.43 | FL20260007 |
| Franklin | Survey SUFL2009-046 2009-05-22 | $12.43 | $0.00 | $12.43 | FL20260011 |
| Holmes | Survey SUFL2009-053 2009-05-22 | $12.43 | $0.00 | $12.43 | FL20260016 |
| Jackson | Survey SUFL2009-054 2009-05-22 | $12.43 | $0.00 | $12.43 | FL20260017 |
| Liberty | Survey SUFL2009-057 2009-05-22 | $12.43 | $0.00 | $12.43 | FL20260020 |
| Washington | Survey SUFL2009-067 2009-05-22 | $12.43 | $0.00 | $12.43 | FL20260028 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Florida prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Florida?
657.5kConstruction jobsFlorida, 2026-08
+0.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County | 2,868 | $80,029 | $1,539 |
| Bradford County | 300 | $75,025 | $1,443 |
| Jackson County | 609 | $71,388 | $1,373 |
| Duval County | 25,743 | $71,254 | $1,370 |
| Hillsborough County | 31,923 | $70,532 | $1,356 |
| Broward County | 35,823 | $69,666 | $1,340 |
| Orange County | 30,220 | $69,524 | $1,337 |
| Seminole County | 16,632 | $69,453 | $1,336 |
| Palm Beach County | 28,358 | $67,115 | $1,291 |
| Escambia County | 6,304 | $66,187 | $1,273 |
| Pinellas County | 19,206 | $66,044 | $1,270 |
| Sarasota County | 13,342 | $65,544 | $1,260 |
| Manatee County | 10,276 | $64,497 | $1,240 |
| Polk County | 11,210 | $64,233 | $1,235 |
| Lake County | 8,183 | $63,717 | $1,225 |
| Brevard County | 10,932 | $63,000 | $1,212 |
| Hendry County | 1,036 | $62,715 | $1,206 |
| Monroe County | 1,959 | $61,904 | $1,190 |
| Collier County | 13,938 | $61,721 | $1,187 |
| Miami-Dade County | 36,217 | $61,302 | $1,179 |
| Lee County | 29,449 | $61,159 | $1,176 |
| Clay County | 3,548 | $61,108 | $1,175 |
| Leon County | 5,684 | $61,018 | $1,173 |
| St. Johns County | 3,540 | $60,996 | $1,173 |
| Bay County | 3,933 | $60,367 | $1,161 |
| Martin County | 4,802 | $60,232 | $1,158 |
| Union County | 125 | $60,018 | $1,154 |
| Alachua County | 4,173 | $59,955 | $1,153 |
| Osceola County | 4,861 | $59,788 | $1,150 |
| Okaloosa County | 2,973 | $59,102 | $1,137 |
| Walton County | 2,403 | $59,083 | $1,136 |
| Volusia County | 8,631 | $58,553 | $1,126 |
| Santa Rosa County | 2,651 | $58,456 | $1,124 |
| Charlotte County | 3,851 | $58,368 | $1,122 |
| St. Lucie County | 5,833 | $57,384 | $1,104 |
| Citrus County | 2,275 | $57,346 | $1,103 |
| Baker County | 427 | $57,338 | $1,103 |
| Pasco County | 8,308 | $57,180 | $1,100 |
| DeSoto County | 533 | $57,086 | $1,098 |
| Okeechobee County | 618 | $57,062 | $1,097 |
| Columbia County | 1,057 | $56,940 | $1,095 |
| Marion County | 6,690 | $56,903 | $1,094 |
| Indian River County | 3,611 | $56,838 | $1,093 |
| Gilchrist County | 303 | $55,021 | $1,058 |
| Glades County | 82 | $55,007 | $1,058 |
| Hernando County | 2,893 | $54,866 | $1,055 |
| Jefferson County | 130 | $54,406 | $1,046 |
| Highlands County | 1,232 | $53,469 | $1,028 |
| Suwannee County | 489 | $53,164 | $1,022 |
| Wakulla County | 536 | $52,851 | $1,016 |
| Nassau County | 1,216 | $52,426 | $1,008 |
| Putnam County | 1,148 | $51,950 | $999 |
| Hardee County | 277 | $50,554 | $972 |
| Flagler County | 1,622 | $50,358 | $968 |
| Gadsden County | 574 | $50,065 | $963 |
| Levy County | 580 | $49,158 | $945 |
| Dixie County | 99 | $49,022 | $943 |
| Calhoun County | 128 | $48,202 | $927 |
| Gulf County | 251 | $47,690 | $917 |
| Madison County | 94 | $46,927 | $902 |
| Holmes County | 227 | $44,452 | $855 |
| Franklin County | 217 | $43,223 | $831 |
| Washington County | 249 | $42,204 | $812 |
| Hamilton County | — | — | — |
| Lafayette County | — | — | — |
| Liberty County | — | — | — |
| Taylor County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Florida
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in Florida?
The median heavy equipment operator in Florida earned $23.75 an hour ($49,400 a year) in May 2025, 17% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $22.27–$28.06; the top 10% earn more than $30.78.
Where does Florida rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
Florida ranks 44th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $23.75 an hour, and 51st after adjusting for Florida's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.4, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Florida?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 6 counties, with a typical package of $41.90 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Florida?
BLS counted 27,510 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Florida in May 2025, 2.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.90; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Florida 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.