Heavy equipment operator salary in Maine
Median $26.99 an hour for 2,210 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Heavy equipment operator pay in Maine: the full range
Maine ranks 37th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 37th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.82). 2,210 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $22.21 – $23.52 | $46,200 – $48,920 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.52 – $29.56 | $48,920 – $61,480 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.56 – $36.25 | $61,480 – $75,390 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Maine
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $23.73 | $28.62 | $37.18 | 880 | 6% above |
| Lewiston | $22.63 | $26.99 | $34.65 | 130 | about the same as |
| Bangor | $20.91 | $25.00 | $31.30 | 310 | 7% below |
Heavy equipment operator wages in Maine over time
Table
| Year | Maine $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.68 | $22.57 | $15.31 | 1,960 |
| 2000 | $11.94 | $22.32 | $15.99 | 1,790 |
| 2001 | $12.70 | $23.09 | $16.42 | 1,790 |
| 2002 | $13.03 | $23.32 | $16.94 | 1,880 |
| 2003 | $13.66 | $23.90 | $16.84 | 1,660 |
| 2004 | $14.03 | $23.91 | $17.00 | 1,490 |
| 2005 | $15.20 | $25.06 | $17.23 | 1,610 |
| 2006 | $14.73 | $23.52 | $17.74 | 1,970 |
| 2007 | $15.38 | $23.88 | $18.33 | 2,110 |
| 2008 | $15.65 | $23.40 | $18.88 | 2,290 |
| 2009 | $16.06 | $24.10 | $19.12 | 2,070 |
| 2010 | $16.39 | $24.20 | $19.42 | 1,960 |
| 2011 | $17.19 | $24.60 | $19.96 | 1,560 |
| 2012 | $17.33 | $24.30 | $20.13 | 1,810 |
| 2013 | $17.04 | $23.55 | $20.45 | 1,460 |
| 2014 | $17.20 | $23.39 | $20.92 | 1,500 |
| 2015 | $16.73 | $22.72 | $21.44 | 1,620 |
| 2016 | $17.65 | $23.68 | $22.06 | 1,860 |
| 2017 | $18.62 | $24.46 | $22.61 | 1,650 |
| 2018 | $20.24 | $25.95 | $22.98 | 1,510 |
| 2019 | $20.54 | $25.87 | $23.55 | 1,670 |
| 2020 | $19.71 | $24.52 | $23.93 | 1,790 |
| 2021 | $22.61 | $26.86 | $23.25 | 2,040 |
| 2022 | $23.18 | $25.50 | $24.73 | 2,420 |
| 2023 | $24.53 | $25.92 | $27.00 | 1,960 |
| 2024 | $26.53 | $27.23 | $28.23 | 1,980 |
| 2025 | $26.99 | $26.99 | $28.78 | 2,210 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Maine changed by +18.8% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Maine
On federally funded construction in Maine, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 16 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $23.54). 11 of the 16 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Aroostook County at $23.54). The market median for the state is $26.99.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| York | Survey SUME2022-005 2024-06-26 | $32.79 | $4.40 | $37.19 | ME20260053 |
| Androscoggin | Survey SUME2022-001 2024-06-26 | $23.83 | $4.21 | $28.04 | ME20260004 |
| Cumberland | Survey SUME2022-002 2024-06-26 | $23.83 | $4.21 | $28.04 | ME20260050 |
| Penobscot | Survey SUME2022-003 2024-06-26 | $23.83 | $4.21 | $28.04 | ME20260051 |
| Sagadahoc | Survey SUME2022-004 2024-06-26 | $23.83 | $4.21 | $28.04 | ME20260052 |
| Aroostook | Survey SUME2014-015 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260006 |
| Franklin | Survey SUME2014-016 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260007 |
| Hancock | Survey SUME2014-017 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260008 |
| Kennebec | Survey SUME2014-018 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260009 |
| Knox | Survey SUME2014-019 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260010 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260014 |
| Oxford | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260014 |
| Piscataquis | Survey SUME2014-020 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260011 |
| Somerset | Survey SUME2014-021 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260012 |
| Waldo | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260014 |
| Washington | Survey SUME2014-022 2017-01-31 | $20.42 | $3.12 | $23.54 | ME20260013 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Maine prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Maine?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 6,379 | $81,283 | $1,563 |
| Androscoggin County | 2,515 | $76,181 | $1,465 |
| Penobscot County | 2,673 | $74,649 | $1,436 |
| Kennebec County | 1,887 | $67,949 | $1,307 |
| York County | 2,786 | $67,273 | $1,294 |
| Aroostook County | 638 | $65,825 | $1,266 |
| Somerset County | 583 | $65,115 | $1,252 |
| Franklin County | 414 | $61,850 | $1,189 |
| Waldo County | 568 | $60,329 | $1,160 |
| Sagadahoc County | 474 | $60,170 | $1,157 |
| Hancock County | 1,041 | $60,086 | $1,155 |
| Knox County | 616 | $59,495 | $1,144 |
| Lincoln County | 490 | $58,731 | $1,129 |
| Oxford County | 647 | $58,645 | $1,128 |
| Washington County | 224 | $49,769 | $957 |
| Piscataquis County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Maine
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in Maine?
The median heavy equipment operator in Maine earned $26.99 an hour ($56,140 a year) in May 2025, 6% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $23.52–$29.56; the top 10% earn more than $36.25.
Where does Maine rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
Maine ranks 37th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $26.99 an hour, and 37th after adjusting for Maine's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.0, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Maine?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Maine counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Maine?
BLS counted 2,210 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Maine in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.12; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Maine 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.