Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Louisiana

Median $24.86 an hour for 7,860 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$24.86/hrMedian hourly wageLouisiana, May data
$51,700/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.00 – $36.1410th to 90th percentilehourly range
7,860Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Louisiana: the full range

Wage percentiles, LouisianaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrLouisiana: 10th $18.00 · 25th $22.33 · median $24.86 · 75th $29.92 · 90th $36.14Louisiana$24.86$18.00$36.14United 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: Louisiana vs United States, May 2025.

Louisiana ranks 40th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 34th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.19). 7,860 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.00 – $22.33$37,440 – $46,440roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.33 – $29.92$46,440 – $62,230the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.92 – $36.14$62,230 – $75,180the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Louisiana

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrNew Orleans: $28.00New Orleans$28.00Baton Rouge: $27.99Baton Rouge$27.99Shreveport: $24.52Shreveport$24.52Slidell: $24.32Slidell$24.32Hammond: $23.97Hammond$23.97Lafayette: $23.94Lafayette$23.94Lake Charles: $23.69Lake Charles$23.69Houma: $23.55Houma$23.55Monroe: $22.12Monroe$22.12Alexandria: $21.43Alexandria$21.43
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Louisiana, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
New Orleans$18.91$28.00$30.24$36.251,15013% above
Baton Rouge$19.71$27.99$30.83$36.882,26013% above
Shreveport$18.69$24.52$28.92$33.247501% below
Slidell$18.89$24.32$26.24$46.882502% below
Hammond$17.87$23.97$28.37$28.61904% below
Lafayette$18.34$23.94$27.45$35.693704% below
Lake Charles$17.29$23.69$27.58$36.594105% below
Houma$17.92$23.55$27.67$34.197105% below
Monroe$14.59$22.12$26.46$32.0523011% below
Alexandria$14.50$21.43$25.01$31.6926014% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Louisiana over time

Louisiana, 1999-2025LouisianaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$24.86Louisiana
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Louisiana vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearLouisiana $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.18$23.54$15.316,240
2000$12.39$23.16$15.997,230
2001$12.30$22.36$16.427,050
2002$13.10$23.44$16.945,260
2003$13.79$24.13$16.845,230
2004$13.43$22.89$17.005,620
2005$14.22$23.44$17.236,090
2006$14.54$23.22$17.747,960
2007$15.55$24.14$18.337,900
2008$15.93$23.82$18.888,260
2009$16.77$25.17$19.128,950
2010$17.21$25.41$19.428,960
2011$17.37$24.86$19.969,880
2012$17.27$24.22$20.138,960
2013$17.17$23.73$20.459,960
2014$17.88$24.32$20.929,610
2015$18.32$24.88$21.448,800
2016$19.23$25.79$22.067,740
2017$19.77$25.97$22.617,820
2018$20.96$26.87$22.988,820
2019$21.77$27.41$23.558,430
2020$22.16$27.57$23.938,230
2021$22.42$26.64$23.257,320
2022$22.45$24.70$24.736,580
2023$23.52$24.85$27.006,840
2024$23.87$24.50$28.237,230
2025$24.86$24.86$28.787,860

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Louisiana changed by -0.1% over the last ten years of data and by -9.3% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Louisiana?

-6.8%Jobs since 20198,430 then, 7,860 in 2025
-10.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 17th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Louisiana has changed by +26.0%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -6.8%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Louisiana vs United States, 1999 = 100LouisianaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages75100125150175200020052010201520202025147United States126Louisiana
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Louisiana vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearLouisiana jobsLouisiana indexUS index
19996,240100100
20007,230116103
20017,050113109
20025,26084106
20035,23084106
20045,62090110
20056,09098117
20067,960128121
20077,900127124
20088,260132123
20098,950143114
20108,960144103
20119,880158103
20128,960144103
20139,960160105
20149,610154106
20158,800141110
20167,740124110
20177,820125113
20188,820141118
20198,430135125
20208,230132124
20217,320117125
20226,580105130
20236,840110139
20247,230116145
20257,860126147

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 Louisiana

+4.3%Projected growth in Louisiana2024–2034, state agency
660Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
7,630Jobs in 20247,960 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Louisiana's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +4.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,630 to 7,960, with about 660 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 7,860 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Louisiana 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 Louisiana

On federally funded construction in Louisiana, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 64 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $20.34). 64 of the 64 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Acadia County at $19.07). The market median for the state is $24.86.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, LAAcadia: $19.07 (survey)Allen: $21.90 (survey)Ascension: $19.07 (survey)Assumption: $21.90 (survey)Avoyelles: $21.90 (survey)Beauregard: $21.90 (survey)Bienville: $20.34 (survey)Bossier: $20.74 (survey)Caddo: $20.74 (survey)Calcasieu: $19.88 (survey)Caldwell: $20.34 (survey)Cameron: $19.88 (survey)Catahoula: $20.34 (survey)Claiborne: $20.34 (survey)Concordia: $20.34 (survey)De Soto: $20.74 (survey)East Baton Rouge: $19.07 (survey)East Carroll: $20.34 (survey)East Feliciana: $19.07 (survey)Evangeline: $21.90 (survey)Franklin: $20.34 (survey)Grant: $19.88 (survey)Iberia: $19.07 (survey)Iberville: $19.07 (survey)Jackson: $20.34 (survey)Jefferson: $21.03 (survey)Jefferson Davis: $21.90 (survey)Lafayette: $19.07 (survey)Lafourche: $21.03 (survey)LaSalle: $20.34 (survey)Lincoln: $20.44 (survey)Livingston: $19.07 (survey)Madison: $20.34 (survey)Morehouse: $20.34 (survey)Natchitoches: $20.34 (survey)Orleans: $22.92 (survey)Ouachita: $21.42 (survey)Plaquemines: $21.03 (survey)Pointe Coupee: $19.07 (survey)Rapides: $19.88 (survey)Red River: $20.34 (survey)Richland: $20.34 (survey)Sabine: $20.34 (survey)St. Bernard: $21.03 (survey)St. Charles: $21.03 (survey)St. Helena: $19.07 (survey)St. James: $21.03 (survey)St. John the Baptist: $21.03 (survey)St. Landry: $21.90 (survey)St. Martin: $19.07 (survey)St. Mary: $21.90 (survey)St. Tammany: $21.03 (survey)Tangipahoa: $21.03 (survey)Tensas: $20.34 (survey)Terrebonne: $21.03 (survey)Union: $21.42 (survey)Vermilion: $19.07 (survey)Vernon: $21.90 (survey)Washington: $21.90 (survey)Webster: $20.74 (survey)West Baton Rouge: $19.07 (survey)West Carroll: $20.34 (survey)West Feliciana: $19.07 (survey)Winn: $20.34 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$20.34$20.74$21.19survey 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)$15$20$25$30/hrOuachita (Monroe): market median $22.12, prevailing (survey) $21.42, gap −$0.70Ouachita (Monroe)−$0.70Grant (Alexandria): market median $21.43, prevailing (survey) $19.88, gap −$1.55Grant (Alexandria)−$1.55Jefferson Davis (Lake Charles): market median $23.69, prevailing (survey) $21.90, gap −$1.79Jefferson Davis (Lake Charles)−$1.79Lafourche (Houma): market median $23.55, prevailing (survey) $21.03, gap −$2.52Lafourche (Houma)−$2.52Tangipahoa (Hammond): market median $23.97, prevailing (survey) $21.03, gap −$2.94Tangipahoa (Hammond)−$2.94St. Tammany (Slidell): market median $24.32, prevailing (survey) $21.03, gap −$3.29St. Tammany (Slidell)−$3.29Bossier (Shreveport): market median $24.52, prevailing (survey) $20.74, gap −$3.78Bossier (Shreveport)−$3.78Acadia (Lafayette): market median $23.94, prevailing (survey) $19.07, gap −$4.87Acadia (Lafayette)−$4.87Orleans (New Orleans): market median $28.00, prevailing (survey) $22.92, gap −$5.08Orleans (New Orleans)−$5.08Assumption (Baton Rouge): market median $27.99, prevailing (survey) $21.90, gap −$6.09Assumption (Baton Rouge)−$6.09
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Louisiana.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
OrleansSurvey SULA2012-026 2014-09-22$22.92$0.00$22.92LA20260041
AllenSurvey SULA2012-001 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260016
AssumptionSurvey SULA2012-002 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260017
AvoyellesSurvey SULA2012-010 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260025
BeauregardSurvey SULA2012-010 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260025
EvangelineSurvey SULA2012-010 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260025
Jefferson DavisSurvey SULA2012-010 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260025
St. LandrySurvey SULA2012-006 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260021
St. MarySurvey SULA2012-007 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260022
VernonSurvey SULA2012-008 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260023
WashingtonSurvey SULA2012-009 2014-09-22$18.50$3.40$21.90LA20260024
OuachitaSurvey SULA2012-027 2014-09-22$19.33$2.09$21.42LA20260042
UnionSurvey SULA2012-032 2014-09-22$19.33$2.09$21.42LA20260047
JeffersonSurvey SULA2012-023 2014-09-22$21.03$0.00$21.03LA20260038
LafourcheSurvey SULA2012-025 2014-09-22$21.03$0.00$21.03LA20260040

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

Is construction work growing in Louisiana?

153.5kConstruction jobsLouisiana, 2026-09
+13.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202680k100k120k140k160k180k19901995200020052010201520202025154kSep 2026
Construction employment in Louisiana (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 51 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 67,056 in 2015 to 63,797 in 2025, -4.9%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Orleans Parish3511,940$129,981$2,500
Plaquemines Parish541,000$122,438$2,355
Iberville Parish42527$82,977$1,596
West Baton Rouge Parish661,740$81,977$1,576
St. Bernard Parish81527$81,535$1,568
Richland Parish42251$81,506$1,567
East Baton Rouge Parish89310,058$80,106$1,540
St. John the Baptist Parish62792$77,555$1,491
St. Charles Parish1171,574$75,983$1,461
Grant Parish29171$75,937$1,460
St. Mary Parish74567$73,867$1,421
Ascension Parish2564,057$73,040$1,405

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Louisiana

More on Louisiana

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Louisiana?

The median heavy equipment operator in Louisiana earned $24.86 an hour ($51,700 a year) in May 2025, 14% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $22.33–$29.92; the top 10% earn more than $36.14.

Where does Louisiana rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Louisiana ranks 40th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $24.86 an hour, and 34th after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.2, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Louisiana?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Louisiana counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Louisiana?

BLS counted 7,860 heavy equipment operators in Louisiana in May 2025, 4.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.32; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Louisiana?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Louisiana went from 8,800 in 2015 to 7,860 in 2025, -10.7%, and -6.8% since 2019. Louisiana's labor market agency projects +4.3% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 7,630 to 7,960 jobs.

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

Louisiana projects about 660 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, Louisiana 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: Louisiana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.