Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Kentucky

Median $27.78 an hour for 7,050 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.78/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$57,780/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.45 – $38.8910th to 90th percentilehourly range
7,050Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrKentucky: 10th $21.45 · 25th $23.58 · median $27.78 · 75th $31.59 · 90th $38.89Kentucky$27.78$21.45$38.89United 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: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 35th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 26th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.80). 7,050 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.45 – $23.58$44,620 – $49,040roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.58 – $31.59$49,040 – $65,720the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$31.59 – $38.89$65,720 – $80,890the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrCincinnati: $32.19Cincinnati$32.19Louisville: $29.76Louisville$29.76Bowling Green: $28.93Bowling Green$28.93Paducah: $28.36Paducah$28.36Lexington: $28.15Lexington$28.15Huntington: $27.56Huntington$27.56Elizabethtown: $24.50Elizabethtown$24.50Clarksville: $24.48Clarksville$24.48Owensboro: $23.82Owensboro$23.82
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$22.70$32.19$33.74$47.843,12016% above
Louisville$23.15$29.76$31.97$43.421,9207% above
Bowling Green$22.07$28.93$32.07$39.623004% above
Paducah$22.89$28.36$32.94$40.294602% above
Lexington$21.31$28.15$30.30$37.387601% above
Huntington$18.16$27.56$31.18$45.141,0401% below
Elizabethtown$20.71$24.50$27.04$38.4011012% below
Clarksville$19.52$24.48$26.93$33.0542012% below
Owensboro$17.30$23.82$26.88$38.9814014% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$27.78Kentucky
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.35$29.66$15.316,110
2000$14.73$27.54$15.997,690
2001$15.79$28.70$16.428,140
2002$16.22$29.03$16.948,160
2003$15.25$26.68$16.8410,390
2004$15.74$26.83$17.0010,110
2005$15.51$25.57$17.239,530
2006$16.24$25.93$17.748,860
2007$16.86$26.18$18.339,570
2008$17.54$26.23$18.889,190
2009$17.63$26.46$19.128,450
2010$17.48$25.81$19.427,020
2011$17.76$25.42$19.967,560
2012$17.78$24.93$20.137,820
2013$17.85$24.67$20.457,360
2014$18.14$24.67$20.926,810
2015$18.66$25.35$21.446,610
2016$18.88$25.33$22.066,840
2017$21.45$28.17$22.616,200
2018$21.65$27.76$22.985,120
2019$23.07$29.05$23.554,670
2020$22.72$28.26$23.934,350
2021$22.49$26.72$23.255,930
2022$23.93$26.32$24.736,230
2023$26.25$27.74$27.006,530
2024$27.43$28.15$28.237,020
2025$27.78$27.78$28.787,050

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Kentucky changed by +9.6% over the last ten years of data and by -4.4% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Kentucky?

+51.0%Jobs since 20194,670 then, 7,050 in 2025
+6.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 25th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Kentucky has changed by +15.4%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +51.0%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Kentucky vs United States, 1999 = 100KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025147United States115Kentucky
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Kentucky vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearKentucky jobsKentucky indexUS index
19996,110100100
20007,690126103
20018,140133109
20028,160134106
200310,390170106
200410,110166110
20059,530156117
20068,860145121
20079,570157124
20089,190150123
20098,450138114
20107,020115103
20117,560124103
20127,820128103
20137,360120105
20146,810112106
20156,610108110
20166,840112110
20176,200102113
20185,12084118
20194,67076125
20204,35071124
20215,93097125
20226,230102130
20236,530107139
20247,020115145
20257,050115147

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 Kentucky

+2.4%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
610Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
7,320Jobs in 20247,500 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +2.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,320 to 7,500, with about 610 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 7,050 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Kentucky 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 Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 1 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $60.25 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $35.16). 119 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adair County at $34.11). The market median for the state is $27.78.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $34.11 (survey)Allen: $36.00 (survey)Anderson: $35.16 (survey)Ballard: $38.03 (survey)Barren: $34.11 (survey)Bath: $35.16 (survey)Bell: $34.61 (survey)Boone: $35.47 (survey)Bourbon: $37.70 (survey)Boyd: $35.47 (survey)Boyle: $35.16 (survey)Bracken: $35.47 (survey)Breathitt: $34.61 (survey)Breckinridge: $38.03 (survey)Bullitt: $25.99 (survey)Butler: $36.00 (survey)Caldwell: $38.03 (survey)Calloway: $38.03 (survey)Campbell: $35.47 (survey)Carlisle: $38.03 (survey)Carroll: $35.16 (survey)Carter: $38.08 (survey)Casey: $34.11 (survey)Christian: $35.60 (survey)Clark: $37.70 (survey)Clay: $34.61 (survey)Clinton: $34.11 (survey)Crittenden: $38.03 (survey)Cumberland: $34.11 (survey)Daviess: $36.48 (survey)Edmonson: $36.00 (survey)Elliott: $34.61 (survey)Estill: $35.16 (survey)Fayette: $37.25 (survey)Fleming: $35.16 (survey)Floyd: $34.61 (survey)Franklin: $35.16 (survey)Fulton: $38.03 (survey)Gallatin: $35.47 (survey)Garrard: $35.16 (survey)Grant: $35.47 (survey)Graves: $38.03 (survey)Grayson: $38.03 (survey)Green: $34.11 (survey)Greenup: $35.47 (survey)Hancock: $36.48 (survey)Hardin: $37.35 (survey)Harlan: $34.61 (survey)Harrison: $35.16 (survey)Hart: $34.11 (survey)Henderson: $36.00 (survey)Henry: $25.99 (survey)Hickman: $38.03 (survey)Hopkins: $38.03 (survey)Jackson: $34.61 (survey)Jefferson: $25.99 (survey)Jessamine: $37.70 (survey)Johnson: $34.61 (survey)Kenton: $35.47 (survey)Knott: $34.61 (survey)Knox: $34.11 (survey)Larue: $37.35 (survey)Laurel: $34.11 (survey)Lawrence: $34.61 (survey)Lee: $34.61 (survey)Leslie: $34.61 (survey)Letcher: $34.61 (survey)Lewis: $35.16 (survey)Lincoln: $35.16 (survey)Livingston: $38.03 (survey)Logan: $34.11 (survey)Lyon: $38.03 (survey)McCracken: $38.03 (survey)McCreary: $34.11 (survey)McLean: $36.48 (survey)Madison: $35.16 (survey)Magoffin: $34.61 (survey)Marion: $34.11 (survey)Marshall: $60.25 (union)Martin: $34.61 (survey)Mason: $35.16 (survey)Meade: $37.35 (survey)Menifee: $35.16 (survey)Mercer: $35.16 (survey)Metcalfe: $34.11 (survey)Monroe: $34.11 (survey)Montgomery: $35.16 (survey)Morgan: $34.61 (survey)Muhlenberg: $38.03 (survey)Nelson: $25.99 (survey)Nicholas: $35.16 (survey)Ohio: $38.03 (survey)Oldham: $25.99 (survey)Owen: $35.16 (survey)Owsley: $34.61 (survey)Pendleton: $35.47 (survey)Perry: $34.61 (survey)Pike: $34.61 (survey)Powell: $35.16 (survey)Pulaski: $34.11 (survey)Robertson: $35.16 (survey)Rockcastle: $35.16 (survey)Rowan: $35.16 (survey)Russell: $34.11 (survey)Scott: $37.70 (survey)Shelby: $25.99 (survey)Simpson: $34.11 (survey)Spencer: $25.99 (survey)Taylor: $34.11 (survey)Todd: $38.03 (survey)Trigg: $39.39 (survey)Trimble: $25.99 (survey)Union: $38.03 (survey)Warren: $36.00 (survey)Washington: $35.16 (survey)Wayne: $34.11 (survey)Webster: $36.00 (survey)Whitley: $34.11 (survey)Wolfe: $34.61 (survey)Woodford: $37.70 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$34.11$34.94$35.47$37.70survey 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)$20$25$30$35$40$45/hrTrigg (Clarksville): market median $24.48, prevailing (survey) $39.39, gap +$14.91Trigg (Clarksville)+$14.91Hardin (Elizabethtown): market median $24.50, prevailing (survey) $37.35, gap +$12.85Hardin (Elizabethtown)+$12.85Daviess (Owensboro): market median $23.82, prevailing (survey) $36.48, gap +$12.66Daviess (Owensboro)+$12.66Carter (Huntington): market median $27.56, prevailing (survey) $38.08, gap +$10.52Carter (Huntington)+$10.52Ballard (Paducah): market median $28.36, prevailing (survey) $38.03, gap +$9.67Ballard (Paducah)+$9.67Bourbon (Lexington): market median $28.15, prevailing (survey) $37.70, gap +$9.55Bourbon (Lexington)+$9.55Meade (Louisville): market median $29.76, prevailing (survey) $37.35, gap +$7.59Meade (Louisville)+$7.59Allen (Bowling Green): market median $28.93, prevailing (survey) $36.00, gap +$7.07Allen (Bowling Green)+$7.07Boone (Cincinnati): market median $32.19, prevailing (survey) $35.47, gap +$3.28Boone (Cincinnati)+$3.28
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
MarshallUnion ENGI0181-089 2025-06-01$40.65$19.60$60.25KY20260028
TriggSurvey SUKY2015-036 2015-06-02$29.05$10.34$39.39KY20260097
CarterSurvey SUKY2015-004 2015-06-02$25.08$13.00$38.08KY20260022
BallardSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
BreckinridgeSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
CaldwellSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
CallowaySurvey SUKY2015-002 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260020
CarlisleSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
CrittendenSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
FultonSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
GravesSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
GraysonSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
HickmanSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041
HopkinsSurvey SUKY2015-006 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260024
LivingstonSurvey SUKY2015-022 2015-06-02$27.30$10.73$38.03KY20260041

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

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (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 92 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 43,567 in 2015 to 56,410 in 2025, +29.5%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Monroe County1879$89,609$1,723
Laurel County73602$85,874$1,651
Boyd County84930$84,083$1,617
Owen County1031$80,473$1,548
Grant County42269$80,397$1,546
Harrison County2865$80,322$1,545
Mason County28366$80,276$1,544
Henderson County84824$80,139$1,541
Hancock County16128$79,869$1,536
Jefferson County1,33815,635$79,698$1,533
Webster County21432$78,159$1,503
Garrard County59381$77,840$1,497

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Kentucky?

The median heavy equipment operator in Kentucky earned $27.78 an hour ($57,780 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $23.58–$31.59; the top 10% earn more than $38.89.

Where does Kentucky rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Kentucky ranks 35th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $27.78 an hour, and 26th after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 1 counties, with a typical package of $60.25 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 7,050 heavy equipment operators in Kentucky 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 Kentucky?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Kentucky went from 6,610 in 2015 to 7,050 in 2025, +6.7%, and +51.0% since 2019. Kentucky's labor market agency projects +2.4% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 7,320 to 7,500 jobs.

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

Kentucky projects about 610 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, Kentucky 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: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.