Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Massachusetts

Median $36.93 an hour for 9,680 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$36.93/hrMedian hourly wageMassachusetts, May data
$76,820/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$25.31 – $60.2910th to 90th percentilehourly range
9,680Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Massachusetts: the full range

Wage percentiles, MassachusettsMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrMassachusetts: 10th $25.31 · 25th $29.99 · median $36.93 · 75th $51.71 · 90th $60.29Massachusetts$36.93$25.31$60.29United 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: Massachusetts vs United States, May 2025.

Massachusetts ranks 11th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 12th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.91). 9,680 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$25.31 – $29.99$52,630 – $62,370roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$29.99 – $51.71$62,370 – $107,550the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$51.71 – $60.29$107,550 – $125,400the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Massachusetts

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWorcester: $37.05Worcester$37.05Boston: $36.99Boston$36.99Springfield: $35.13Springfield$35.13Barnstable: $35.06Barnstable$35.06Providence: $33.61Providence$33.61Amherst: $32.13Amherst$32.13Pittsfield: $30.99Pittsfield$30.99
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Massachusetts, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Worcester$23.77$37.05$36.15$60.631,230about the same as
Boston$25.96$36.99$34.16$60.516,370about the same as
Springfield$23.60$35.13$36.56$59.056705% below
Barnstable$25.31$35.06$35.63$58.794005% below
Providence$25.22$33.61$33.02$50.481,5709% below
Amherst$23.30$32.13$32.07$59.6718013% below
Pittsfield$23.23$30.99$32.59$46.5915016% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Massachusetts over time

Massachusetts, 1999-2025MassachusettsUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$36.93Massachusetts$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Massachusetts vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMassachusetts $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.15$37.01$15.313,940
2000$22.97$42.94$15.994,140
2001$25.12$45.66$16.426,340
2002$24.03$43.00$16.945,480
2003$25.02$43.78$16.845,710
2004$24.80$42.27$17.006,540
2005$23.69$39.05$17.236,020
2006$25.59$40.87$17.745,010
2007$26.47$41.10$18.334,410
2008$27.93$41.76$18.884,390
2009$25.79$38.70$19.124,240
2010$26.12$38.56$19.424,130
2011$25.68$36.75$19.964,110
2012$27.29$38.27$20.134,820
2013$28.31$39.12$20.454,940
2014$29.62$40.28$20.925,550
2015$30.72$41.73$21.445,560
2016$31.35$42.05$22.066,000
2017$29.57$38.84$22.616,710
2018$29.25$37.50$22.987,010
2019$30.27$38.12$23.557,520
2020$32.46$40.38$23.937,050
2021$29.99$35.63$23.257,470
2022$33.22$36.54$24.737,890
2023$33.00$34.87$27.009,430
2024$35.00$35.92$28.2310,360
2025$36.93$36.93$28.789,680

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Massachusetts changed by -11.5% over the last ten years of data and by -3.1% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Massachusetts?

+28.7%Jobs since 20197,520 then, 9,680 in 2025
+74.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 40th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Massachusetts has changed by +145.7%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +28.7%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Massachusetts vs United States, 1999 = 100MassachusettsUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250300200020052010201520202025246Massachusetts147United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Massachusetts vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMassachusetts jobsMassachusetts indexUS index
19993,940100100
20004,140105103
20016,340161109
20025,480139106
20035,710145106
20046,540166110
20056,020153117
20065,010127121
20074,410112124
20084,390111123
20094,240108114
20104,130105103
20114,110104103
20124,820122103
20134,940125105
20145,550141106
20155,560141110
20166,000152110
20176,710170113
20187,010178118
20197,520191125
20207,050179124
20217,470190125
20227,890200130
20239,430239139
202410,360263145
20259,680246147

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 Massachusetts

+6.3%Projected growth in Massachusetts2024–2034, state agency
930Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
10,360Jobs in 202411,010 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Massachusetts's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +6.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 10,360 to 11,010, with about 930 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 9,680 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts

On federally funded construction in Massachusetts, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 14 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $90.88 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $36.93.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MABarnstable: $90.88 (union)Berkshire: $71.81 (union)Bristol: $90.88 (union)Dukes: $90.88 (union)Essex: $90.88 (union)Franklin: $71.81 (union)Hampden: $71.81 (union)Hampshire: $71.81 (union)Middlesex: $90.88 (union)Nantucket: $90.88 (union)Norfolk: $90.88 (union)Plymouth: $91.53 (union)Suffolk: $90.88 (union)Worcester: $91.53 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$90.88
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)$20$40$60$80$100/hrBristol (Providence): market median $33.61, prevailing (union) $90.88, gap +$57.27Bristol (Providence)+$57.27Barnstable (Barnstable): market median $35.06, prevailing (union) $90.88, gap +$55.82Barnstable (Barnstable)+$55.82Plymouth (Boston): market median $36.99, prevailing (union) $91.53, gap +$54.54Plymouth (Boston)+$54.54Worcester (Worcester): market median $37.05, prevailing (union) $91.53, gap +$54.48Worcester (Worcester)+$54.48Berkshire (Pittsfield): market median $30.99, prevailing (union) $71.81, gap +$40.82Berkshire (Pittsfield)+$40.82Hampshire (Amherst): market median $32.13, prevailing (union) $71.81, gap +$39.68Hampshire (Amherst)+$39.68Hampden (Springfield): market median $35.13, prevailing (union) $71.81, gap +$36.68Hampden (Springfield)+$36.68
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Massachusetts.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
PlymouthUnion ENGI0004-012 2025-06-01$57.83$33.70$91.53MA20260012
WorcesterUnion ENGI0004-012 2025-06-01$57.83$33.70$91.53MA20260013
BarnstableUnion ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01$57.18$33.70$90.88MA20260001
BristolUnion ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01$57.18$33.70$90.88MA20260001
DukesUnion ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01$57.18$33.70$90.88MA20260001
EssexUnion ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01$57.18$33.70$90.88MA20260001
MiddlesexUnion ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01$57.18$33.70$90.88MA20260001
NantucketUnion ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01$57.18$33.70$90.88MA20260001
NorfolkUnion ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01$57.18$33.70$90.88MA20260001
SuffolkUnion ENGI0004-001 2025-06-01$57.18$33.70$90.88MA20260001
BerkshireUnion ENGI0098-001 2024-06-01$41.23$30.58$71.81MA20260003
FranklinUnion ENGI0098-001 2024-06-01$41.23$30.58$71.81MA20260003
HampdenUnion ENGI0098-001 2024-06-01$41.23$30.58$71.81MA20260003
HampshireUnion ENGI0098-001 2024-06-01$41.23$30.58$71.81MA20260003

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

Is construction work growing in Massachusetts?

172.1kConstruction jobsMassachusetts, 2026-09
+1.4%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025172kSep 2026
Construction employment in Massachusetts (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 14 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 92,697 in 2015 to 113,325 in 2025, +22.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Suffolk County6997,304$114,740$2,207
Norfolk County1,57015,879$111,044$2,135
Middlesex County3,33030,290$102,132$1,964
Plymouth County1,42311,316$100,512$1,933
Nantucket County278728$92,732$1,783
Essex County1,71111,307$91,756$1,765
Worcester County1,86611,590$90,722$1,745
Dukes County169535$90,408$1,739
Bristol County1,2449,754$88,917$1,710
Hampden County6585,659$87,478$1,682
Barnstable County9634,461$82,396$1,585
Hampshire County2721,676$81,930$1,576

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Massachusetts

More on Massachusetts

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Massachusetts?

The median heavy equipment operator in Massachusetts earned $36.93 an hour ($76,820 a year) in May 2025, 28% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $29.99–$51.71; the top 10% earn more than $60.29.

Where does Massachusetts rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Massachusetts ranks 11th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $36.93 an hour, and 12th after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Massachusetts?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 14 counties, with a typical package of $90.88 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Massachusetts?

BLS counted 9,680 heavy equipment operators in Massachusetts in May 2025, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.87; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Massachusetts?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Massachusetts went from 5,560 in 2015 to 9,680 in 2025, +74.1%, and +28.7% since 2019. Massachusetts's labor market agency projects +6.3% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 10,360 to 11,010 jobs.

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

Massachusetts projects about 930 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, Massachusetts 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: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.