Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Kansas

Median $24.82 an hour for 7,070 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$24.82/hrMedian hourly wageKansas, May data
$51,620/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.00 – $41.0710th to 90th percentilehourly range
7,070Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Kansas: the full range

Wage percentiles, KansasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrKansas: 10th $19.00 · 25th $21.50 · median $24.82 · 75th $29.82 · 90th $41.07Kansas$24.82$19.00$41.07United 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: Kansas vs United States, May 2025.

Kansas ranks 41st of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 39th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.55). 7,070 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$19.00 – $21.50$39,520 – $44,720roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.50 – $29.82$44,720 – $62,030the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.82 – $41.07$62,030 – $85,420the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Kansas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrKansas City: $30.80Kansas City$30.80St. Joseph: $30.20St. Joseph$30.20Lawrence: $28.88Lawrence$28.88Manhattan: $27.92Manhattan$27.92Topeka: $27.29Topeka$27.29Joplin: $25.58Joplin$25.58Wichita: $24.00Wichita$24.00
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Kansas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Kansas City$22.72$30.80$33.30$46.564,11024% above
St. Joseph$20.13$30.20$34.95$44.4739022% above
Lawrence$20.13$28.88$32.02$44.6412016% above
Manhattan$20.13$27.92$30.95$39.8436012% above
Topeka$20.13$27.29$30.73$39.6953010% above
Joplin$18.43$25.58$29.85$38.683303% above
Wichita$19.26$24.00$27.00$35.591,1503% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Kansas over time

Kansas, 1999-2025KansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$24.82Kansas
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Kansas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKansas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$11.83$22.86$15.315,840
2000$12.27$22.94$15.995,350
2001$12.97$23.58$16.425,700
2002$13.90$24.87$16.945,550
2003$14.11$24.69$16.845,660
2004$14.48$24.68$17.006,480
2005$14.01$23.09$17.236,260
2006$15.05$24.03$17.746,640
2007$15.19$23.59$18.337,090
2008$15.95$23.85$18.887,540
2009$15.06$22.60$19.126,870
2010$15.23$22.49$19.426,190
2011$15.24$21.81$19.966,410
2012$15.93$22.34$20.136,380
2013$16.70$23.08$20.456,130
2014$17.02$23.15$20.926,520
2015$17.21$23.38$21.446,420
2016$17.77$23.84$22.066,440
2017$17.73$23.29$22.616,440
2018$17.90$22.95$22.986,810
2019$18.50$23.30$23.557,430
2020$19.42$24.16$23.936,730
2021$20.65$24.53$23.256,450
2022$22.47$24.72$24.736,570
2023$22.96$24.26$27.007,280
2024$24.33$24.97$28.236,850
2025$24.82$24.82$28.787,070

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Kansas changed by +6.2% over the last ten years of data and by +6.5% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Kansas?

-4.8%Jobs since 20197,430 then, 7,070 in 2025
+10.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.6× the US share, 8th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Kansas has changed by +21.1%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -4.8%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Kansas vs United States, 1999 = 100KansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160200020052010201520202025147United States121Kansas
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Kansas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearKansas jobsKansas indexUS index
19995,840100100
20005,35092103
20015,70098109
20025,55095106
20035,66097106
20046,480111110
20056,260107117
20066,640114121
20077,090121124
20087,540129123
20096,870118114
20106,190106103
20116,410110103
20126,380109103
20136,130105105
20146,520112106
20156,420110110
20166,440110110
20176,440110113
20186,810117118
20197,430127125
20206,730115124
20216,450110125
20226,570112130
20237,280125139
20246,850117145
20257,070121147

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 Kansas

+2.0%Projected growth in Kansas2024–2034, state agency
590Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
7,090Jobs in 20247,230 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kansas's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +2.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,090 to 7,230, with about 590 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 7,070 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Kansas 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 Kansas

On federally funded construction in Kansas, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 105 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $67.90 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $17.67). 100 of the 105 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Allen County at $17.67). The market median for the state is $24.82.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KSAllen: $17.67 (survey)Anderson: $17.67 (survey)Atchison: $17.67 (survey)Barber: $17.67 (survey)Barton: $17.67 (survey)Bourbon: $17.67 (survey)Brown: $17.67 (survey)Butler: $23.99 (survey)Chase: $17.67 (survey)Chautauqua: $17.67 (survey)Cherokee: $17.67 (survey)Cheyenne: $17.67 (survey)Clark: $17.67 (survey)Clay: $17.67 (survey)Cloud: $17.67 (survey)Coffey: $17.67 (survey)Comanche: $17.67 (survey)Cowley: $17.67 (survey)Crawford: $17.67 (survey)Decatur: $17.67 (survey)Dickinson: $17.67 (survey)Doniphan: $33.70 (survey)Douglas: $33.70 (survey)Edwards: $17.67 (survey)Elk: $17.67 (survey)Ellis: $17.67 (survey)Ellsworth: $17.67 (survey)Finney: $17.67 (survey)Ford: $17.67 (survey)Franklin: $67.90 (union)Geary: $45.68 (survey)Gove: $17.67 (survey)Graham: $17.67 (survey)Grant: $17.67 (survey)Gray: $17.67 (survey)Greeley: $17.67 (survey)Greenwood: $17.67 (survey)Hamilton: $17.67 (survey)Harper: $17.67 (survey)Harvey: $23.99 (survey)Haskell: $17.67 (survey)Hodgeman: $17.67 (survey)Jackson: $33.70 (survey)Jefferson: $33.70 (survey)Jewell: $17.67 (survey)Johnson: $67.90 (union)Kearny: $17.67 (survey)Kingman: $17.67 (survey)Kiowa: $17.67 (survey)Labette: $17.67 (survey)Lane: $17.67 (survey)Leavenworth: $47.72 (survey)Lincoln: $17.67 (survey)Linn: $67.90 (union)Logan: $17.67 (survey)Lyon: $17.67 (survey)McPherson: $17.67 (survey)Marion: $17.67 (survey)Marshall: $17.67 (survey)Meade: $17.67 (survey)Miami: $67.90 (union)Mitchell: $17.67 (survey)Montgomery: $17.67 (survey)Morris: $17.67 (survey)Morton: $17.67 (survey)Nemaha: $17.67 (survey)Neosho: $17.67 (survey)Ness: $17.67 (survey)Norton: $17.67 (survey)Osage: $33.70 (survey)Osborne: $17.67 (survey)Ottawa: $17.67 (survey)Pawnee: $17.67 (survey)Phillips: $17.67 (survey)Pottawatomie: $42.84 (survey)Pratt: $17.67 (survey)Rawlins: $17.67 (survey)Reno: $17.67 (survey)Republic: $17.67 (survey)Rice: $17.67 (survey)Riley: $42.84 (survey)Rooks: $17.67 (survey)Rush: $17.67 (survey)Russell: $17.67 (survey)Saline: $17.67 (survey)Scott: $17.67 (survey)Sedgwick: $23.99 (survey)Seward: $17.67 (survey)Shawnee: $33.70 (survey)Sheridan: $17.67 (survey)Sherman: $17.67 (survey)Smith: $17.67 (survey)Stafford: $17.67 (survey)Stanton: $17.67 (survey)Stevens: $17.67 (survey)Sumner: $23.99 (survey)Thomas: $17.67 (survey)Trego: $17.67 (survey)Wabaunsee: $33.70 (survey)Wallace: $17.67 (survey)Washington: $17.67 (survey)Wichita: $17.67 (survey)Wilson: $17.67 (survey)Woodson: $17.67 (survey)Wyandotte: $67.90 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hrsurvey 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/hrJohnson (Kansas City): market median $30.80, prevailing (union) $67.90, gap +$37.10Johnson (Kansas City)+$37.10Geary (Manhattan): market median $27.92, prevailing (survey) $45.68, gap +$17.76Geary (Manhattan)+$17.76Jackson (Topeka): market median $27.29, prevailing (survey) $33.70, gap +$6.41Jackson (Topeka)+$6.41Douglas (Lawrence): market median $28.88, prevailing (survey) $33.70, gap +$4.82Douglas (Lawrence)+$4.82Doniphan (St. Joseph): market median $30.20, prevailing (survey) $33.70, gap +$3.50Doniphan (St. Joseph)+$3.50Butler (Wichita): market median $24.00, prevailing (survey) $23.99, gap −$0.01Butler (Wichita)−$0.01Cherokee (Joplin): market median $25.58, prevailing (survey) $17.67, gap −$7.91Cherokee (Joplin)−$7.91
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Kansas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
FranklinUnion ENGI0101-042 2025-04-01$45.48$22.42$67.90KS20260060
JohnsonUnion ENGI0101-042 2025-04-01$45.48$22.42$67.90KS20260052
LinnUnion ENGI0101-044 2025-04-01$45.48$22.42$67.90KS20260054
MiamiUnion ENGI0101-042 2025-04-01$45.48$22.42$67.90KS20260060
WyandotteUnion ENGI0101-042 2025-04-01$45.48$22.42$67.90KS20260060
LeavenworthSurvey SUKS2015-022 2015-07-08$33.85$13.87$47.72KS20260053
GearySurvey SUKS2015-018 2015-07-08$32.88$12.80$45.68KS20260049
PottawatomieSurvey SUKS2015-024 2015-07-08$31.56$11.28$42.84KS20260055
RileySurvey SUKS2015-025 2015-07-08$31.56$11.28$42.84KS20260056
DoniphanSurvey SUKS2015-016 2015-07-08$26.69$7.01$33.70KS20260047
DouglasSurvey SUKS2015-017 2015-07-08$26.69$7.01$33.70KS20260048
JacksonSurvey SUKS2015-030 2015-07-08$26.69$7.01$33.70KS20260061
JeffersonSurvey SUKS2015-020 2015-07-08$26.69$7.01$33.70KS20260051
OsageSurvey SUKS2015-030 2015-07-08$26.69$7.01$33.70KS20260061
ShawneeSurvey SUKS2015-027 2015-07-08$26.69$7.01$33.70KS20260058

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

Is construction work growing in Kansas?

78.5kConstruction jobsKansas, 2026-09
+5.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k1990199520002005201020152020202578kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kansas (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 64 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 36,476 in 2015 to 45,633 in 2025, +25.1%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Ellsworth County9158$137,206$2,639
Harper County661$102,952$1,980
Wyandotte County2944,490$89,815$1,727
Johnson County1,01113,237$88,059$1,693
Gray County20248$87,145$1,676
Wilson County11163$82,348$1,584
Coffey County14114$74,119$1,425
Shawnee County3312,998$72,916$1,402
Geary County2498$71,542$1,376
Linn County18140$70,156$1,349
Lincoln County639$69,203$1,331
Reno County107688$68,672$1,321

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kansas

More on Kansas

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Kansas?

The median heavy equipment operator in Kansas earned $24.82 an hour ($51,620 a year) in May 2025, 14% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $21.50–$29.82; the top 10% earn more than $41.07.

Where does Kansas rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Kansas ranks 41st of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $24.82 an hour, and 39th after adjusting for Kansas's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Kansas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 5 counties, with a typical package of $67.90 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Kansas?

BLS counted 7,070 heavy equipment operators in Kansas in May 2025, 4.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.60; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Kansas?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Kansas went from 6,420 in 2015 to 7,070 in 2025, +10.1%, and -4.8% since 2019. Kansas's labor market agency projects +2.0% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 7,090 to 7,230 jobs.

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

Kansas projects about 590 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, Kansas 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: Kansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.