Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Iowa

Median $29.01 an hour for 5,530 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.01/hrMedian hourly wageIowa, May data
$60,330/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.45 – $42.0510th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,530Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Iowa: the full range

Wage percentiles, IowaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIowa: 10th $22.45 · 25th $25.77 · median $29.01 · 75th $34.93 · 90th $42.05Iowa$29.01$22.45$42.05United 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: Iowa vs United States, May 2025.

Iowa ranks 30th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 17th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.04). 5,530 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.45 – $25.77$46,690 – $53,610roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$25.77 – $34.93$53,610 – $72,660the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$34.93 – $42.05$72,660 – $87,460the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Iowa

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrWaterloo: $47.01Waterloo$47.01Davenport: $31.18Davenport$31.18Cedar Rapids: $30.44Cedar Rapids$30.44Des Moines: $30.10Des Moines$30.10Ames: $30.00Ames$30.00Dubuque: $29.93Dubuque$29.93Iowa City: $29.10Iowa City$29.10Omaha: $28.86Omaha$28.86Sioux City: $28.43Sioux City$28.43
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Iowa, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Waterloo$26.50$47.01$53.97$47.0142062% above
Davenport$20.63$31.18$34.99$46.665707% above
Cedar Rapids$23.77$30.44$34.20$41.694905% above
Des Moines$22.46$30.10$32.82$39.891,2604% above
Ames$23.31$30.00$33.78$38.771903% above
Dubuque$23.39$29.93$34.28$43.991603% above
Iowa City$24.04$29.10$31.80$38.02210about the same as
Omaha$22.54$28.86$31.40$37.461,3801% below
Sioux City$22.57$28.43$32.87$35.112002% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Iowa over time

Iowa, 1999-2025IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.01Iowa$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Iowa vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIowa $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.95$26.96$15.314,360
2000$13.98$26.14$15.993,760
2001$15.00$27.27$16.424,000
2002$15.91$28.47$16.943,910
2003$16.64$29.11$16.843,910
2004$16.83$28.68$17.004,080
2005$16.87$27.81$17.234,450
2006$17.58$28.07$17.744,900
2007$18.91$29.36$18.334,970
2008$19.41$29.02$18.885,250
2009$19.66$29.50$19.125,110
2010$18.39$27.15$19.424,780
2011$19.08$27.31$19.964,860
2012$19.19$26.91$20.134,830
2013$20.08$27.75$20.454,970
2014$20.48$27.85$20.925,390
2015$21.53$29.24$21.445,710
2016$21.69$29.09$22.065,710
2017$22.02$28.92$22.616,060
2018$22.64$29.03$22.985,620
2019$23.50$29.59$23.555,920
2020$24.15$30.04$23.935,690
2021$23.46$27.87$23.256,500
2022$25.01$27.51$24.736,530
2023$28.33$29.93$27.006,190
2024$29.43$30.20$28.235,440
2025$29.01$29.01$28.785,530

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Iowa changed by -0.8% over the last ten years of data and by -2.0% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Iowa?

-6.6%Jobs since 20195,920 then, 5,530 in 2025
-3.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 24th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Iowa has changed by +26.8%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -6.6%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Iowa vs United States, 1999 = 100IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140160200020052010201520202025147United States127Iowa
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Iowa vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearIowa jobsIowa indexUS index
19994,360100100
20003,76086103
20014,00092109
20023,91090106
20033,91090106
20044,08094110
20054,450102117
20064,900112121
20074,970114124
20085,250120123
20095,110117114
20104,780110103
20114,860112103
20124,830111103
20134,970114105
20145,390124106
20155,710131110
20165,710131110
20176,060139113
20185,620129118
20195,920136125
20205,690130124
20216,500149125
20226,530150130
20236,190142139
20245,440125145
20255,530127147

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 Iowa

+5.7%Projected growth in Iowa2024–2034, state agency
480Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,490Jobs in 20245,800 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Iowa's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +5.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,490 to 5,800, with about 480 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 5,530 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Iowa 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 Iowa

On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 10 of the 99 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $57.35 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $41.11). 87 of the 99 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Adair County at $35.63). The market median for the state is $29.01.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, IAAdair: $35.63 (survey)Adams: $35.63 (survey)Allamakee: $41.11 (survey)Appanoose: $42.66 (survey)Audubon: $35.63 (survey)Benton: $57.35 (union)Black Hawk: $39.69 (survey)Boone: $35.63 (survey)Bremer: $39.69 (survey)Buchanan: $41.11 (survey)Buena Vista: $41.11 (survey)Butler: $41.11 (survey)Calhoun: $41.11 (survey)Carroll: $35.63 (survey)Cass: $35.63 (survey)Cedar: $42.66 (survey)Cerro Gordo: $41.11 (survey)Cherokee: $41.11 (survey)Chickasaw: $41.11 (survey)Clarke: $35.63 (survey)Clay: $41.11 (survey)Clayton: $41.11 (survey)Clinton: $42.66 (survey)Crawford: $35.63 (survey)Dallas: $56.96 (union)Davis: $42.66 (survey)Decatur: $35.63 (survey)Delaware: $41.11 (survey)Des Moines: $20.70 (survey)Dickinson: $41.11 (survey)Dubuque: $57.35 (union)Emmet: $41.11 (survey)Fayette: $41.11 (survey)Floyd: $41.11 (survey)Franklin: $41.11 (survey)Fremont: $35.63 (survey)Greene: $35.63 (survey)Grundy: $39.69 (survey)Guthrie: $54.32 (survey)Hamilton: $41.11 (survey)Hancock: $41.11 (survey)Hardin: $41.11 (survey)Harrison: $17.41 (survey)Henry: $42.66 (survey)Howard: $41.11 (survey)Humboldt: $41.11 (survey)Ida: $41.11 (survey)Iowa: $42.66 (survey)Jackson: $42.66 (survey)Jasper: $42.66 (survey)Jefferson: $42.66 (survey)Johnson: $39.69 (survey)Jones: $57.35 (union)Keokuk: $42.66 (survey)Kossuth: $41.11 (survey)Lee: $82.75 (union)Linn: $57.35 (union)Louisa: $42.66 (survey)Lucas: $35.63 (survey)Lyon: $41.11 (survey)Madison: $54.32 (survey)Mahaska: $42.66 (survey)Marion: $42.66 (survey)Marshall: $42.66 (survey)Mills: $17.41 (survey)Mitchell: $41.11 (survey)Monona: $35.63 (survey)Monroe: $42.66 (survey)Montgomery: $35.63 (survey)Muscatine: $42.66 (survey)O'Brien: $41.11 (survey)Osceola: $41.11 (survey)Page: $35.63 (survey)Palo Alto: $41.11 (survey)Plymouth: $41.11 (survey)Pocahontas: $41.11 (survey)Polk: $56.96 (union)Pottawattamie: $17.41 (survey)Poweshiek: $42.66 (survey)Ringgold: $35.63 (survey)Sac: $41.11 (survey)Scott: $82.75 (union)Shelby: $35.63 (survey)Sioux: $41.11 (survey)Story: $56.96 (union)Tama: $42.66 (survey)Taylor: $35.63 (survey)Union: $35.63 (survey)Van Buren: $42.66 (survey)Wapello: $42.66 (survey)Warren: $56.96 (union)Washington: $39.69 (survey)Wayne: $35.63 (survey)Webster: $41.11 (survey)Winnebago: $41.11 (survey)Winneshiek: $41.11 (survey)Woodbury: $17.41 (survey)Worth: $41.11 (survey)Wright: $41.11 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$35.63$41.11$42.66survey 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 (union)Prevailing (survey)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrScott (Davenport): market median $31.18, prevailing (union) $82.75, gap +$51.57Scott (Davenport)+$51.57Dubuque (Dubuque): market median $29.93, prevailing (union) $57.35, gap +$27.42Dubuque (Dubuque)+$27.42Story (Ames): market median $30.00, prevailing (union) $56.96, gap +$26.96Story (Ames)+$26.96Benton (Cedar Rapids): market median $30.44, prevailing (union) $57.35, gap +$26.91Benton (Cedar Rapids)+$26.91Dallas (Des Moines): market median $30.10, prevailing (union) $56.96, gap +$26.86Dallas (Des Moines)+$26.86Johnson (Iowa City): market median $29.10, prevailing (survey) $39.69, gap +$10.59Johnson (Iowa City)+$10.59Black Hawk (Waterloo): market median $47.01, prevailing (survey) $39.69, gap −$7.32Black Hawk (Waterloo)−$7.32Woodbury (Sioux City): market median $28.43, prevailing (survey) $17.41, gap −$11.02Woodbury (Sioux City)−$11.02Harrison (Omaha): market median $28.86, prevailing (survey) $17.41, gap −$11.45Harrison (Omaha)−$11.45
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Iowa.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
LeeUnion ENGI0150-038 2025-06-01$41.50$41.25$82.75IA20260047
ScottUnion ENGI0150-038 2025-06-01$41.50$41.25$82.75IA20260073
BentonUnion ENGI0234-003 2025-05-01$39.00$18.35$57.35IA20260078
DubuqueUnion ENGI0234-003 2025-05-01$39.00$18.35$57.35IA20260065
JonesUnion ENGI0234-003 2025-05-01$39.00$18.35$57.35IA20260078
LinnUnion ENGI0234-003 2025-05-01$39.00$18.35$57.35IA20260069
DallasUnion ENGI0234-005 2025-05-01$35.02$21.94$56.96IA20260064
PolkUnion ENGI0234-005 2025-05-01$35.02$21.94$56.96IA20260071
StoryUnion ENGI0234-005 2025-05-01$35.02$21.94$56.96IA20260074
WarrenUnion ENGI0234-005 2025-05-01$35.02$21.94$56.96IA20260075
Guthrieuavg UAVGIA0003 2025-01-01$33.57$20.75$54.32IA20260079
Madisonuavg UAVGIA0003 2025-01-01$33.57$20.75$54.32IA20260079
AppanooseSurvey SUIA2016-005 2016-07-19$27.31$15.35$42.66IA20260032
CedarSurvey SUIA2016-009 2016-07-19$27.31$15.35$42.66IA20260036
ClintonSurvey SUIA2016-011 2016-07-19$27.31$15.35$42.66IA20260038

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

Is construction work growing in Iowa?

92.4kConstruction jobsIowa, 2026-09
+4.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202592kSep 2026
Construction employment in Iowa (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 89 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 48,022 in 2015 to 55,511 in 2025, +15.6%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Crawford County35235$89,187$1,715
Sioux County1191,658$88,688$1,706
Scott County3184,874$86,416$1,662
Ringgold County1583$83,981$1,615
Polk County96515,121$83,791$1,611
Linn County4026,073$79,926$1,537
Lee County62771$79,246$1,524
Jefferson County29168$77,394$1,488
Woodbury County2022,137$76,259$1,467
Pottawattamie County1711,528$76,138$1,464
Webster County70663$74,914$1,441
Cass County28173$73,664$1,417

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Iowa

More on Iowa

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Iowa?

The median heavy equipment operator in Iowa earned $29.01 an hour ($60,330 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $25.77–$34.93; the top 10% earn more than $42.05.

Where does Iowa rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Iowa ranks 30th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $29.01 an hour, and 17th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Iowa?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 10 counties, with a typical package of $57.35 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Iowa?

BLS counted 5,530 heavy equipment operators in Iowa in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.15; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Iowa?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Iowa went from 5,710 in 2015 to 5,530 in 2025, -3.2%, and -6.6% since 2019. Iowa's labor market agency projects +5.7% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 5,490 to 5,800 jobs.

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

Iowa projects about 480 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, Iowa 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: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.