Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Michigan

Median $30.14 an hour for 9,500 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$30.14/hrMedian hourly wageMichigan, May data
$62,690/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.29 – $43.5510th to 90th percentilehourly range
9,500Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Heavy equipment operator pay in Michigan: the full range

Wage percentiles, MichiganMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMichigan: 10th $22.29 · 25th $26.30 · median $30.14 · 75th $37.70 · 90th $43.55Michigan$30.14$22.29$43.55United States: 10th $20.28 · 25th $23.40 · median $28.78 · 75th $37.10 · 90th $48.60United States$28.78
Hourly wage percentiles for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators: Michigan vs United States, May 2025.

Michigan ranks 19th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 22nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.33). 9,500 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$22.29 – $26.30$46,370 – $54,710roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$26.30 – $37.70$54,710 – $78,410the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$37.70 – $43.55$78,410 – $90,580the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Michigan

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrSouth Bend: $38.68South Bend$38.68Battle Creek: $37.51Battle Creek$37.51Bay City: $36.21Bay City$36.21Flint: $36.12Flint$36.12Detroit: $32.76Detroit$32.76Midland: $31.59Midland$31.59Grand Rapids: $30.70Grand Rapids$30.70Ann Arbor: $30.05Ann Arbor$30.05Kalamazoo: $29.68Kalamazoo$29.68Lansing: $29.52Lansing$29.52Traverse City: $29.42Traverse City$29.42Monroe: $29.29Monroe$29.29
Median hourly wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators by metro area in Michigan, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
South Bend$23.08$38.68$49.0536028% above
Battle Creek$27.34$37.51$37.5115024% above
Bay City$23.59$36.21$48.7314020% above
Flint$22.36$36.12$43.2824020% above
Detroit$23.22$32.76$45.163,7909% above
Midland$25.08$31.59$40.361205% above
Grand Rapids$22.62$30.70$40.809002% above
Ann Arbor$20.43$30.05$43.53170about the same as
Kalamazoo$21.14$29.68$43.751902% below
Lansing$19.56$29.52$43.814802% below
Traverse City$23.62$29.42$37.762802% below
Monroe$17.55$29.29$41.291403% below
Jackson$23.21$28.78$48.231605% below
Saginaw$22.65$28.76$46.581705% below
Niles$21.38$28.69$49.921305% below
Muskegon$23.08$28.68$40.751005% below

Heavy equipment operator wages in Michigan over time

Michigan, 1999-2025MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.14Michigan$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, Michigan vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMichigan $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$17.87$34.53$15.318,940
2000$18.95$35.43$15.999,750
2001$19.80$35.99$16.4211,690
2002$19.94$35.68$16.9410,610
2003$20.14$35.24$16.8410,130
2004$20.42$34.80$17.008,560
2005$20.46$33.73$17.238,460
2006$21.11$33.71$17.748,090
2007$21.18$32.89$18.338,360
2008$21.70$32.45$18.887,780
2009$20.93$31.41$19.127,520
2010$20.83$30.75$19.427,400
2011$20.83$29.81$19.967,960
2012$21.52$30.18$20.137,110
2013$21.25$29.37$20.456,550
2014$21.85$29.71$20.926,070
2015$22.23$30.20$21.446,450
2016$23.52$31.55$22.067,070
2017$23.62$31.02$22.617,260
2018$25.11$32.19$22.987,870
2019$25.62$32.26$23.558,300
2020$27.02$33.61$23.938,550
2021$28.51$33.87$23.2510,230
2022$28.71$31.58$24.7310,090
2023$28.61$30.23$27.009,970
2024$30.07$30.86$28.239,420
2025$30.14$30.14$28.789,500

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Michigan changed by -0.2% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Michigan

On federally funded construction in Michigan, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 62 of the 83 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $66.53 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $30.07). 21 of the 83 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Antrim County at $30.07). The market median for the state is $30.14.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MIAlcona: $66.53 (union)Alger: $65.51 (union)Allegan: $66.53 (union)Alpena: $66.53 (union)Antrim: $30.07 (survey)Arenac: $66.53 (union)Baraga: $65.51 (union)Barry: $66.53 (union)Bay: $24.97 (survey)Benzie: $30.07 (survey)Berrien: $67.50 (union)Branch: $66.53 (union)Calhoun: $67.50 (union)Cass: $67.50 (union)Charlevoix: $30.07 (survey)Cheboygan: $66.53 (union)Chippewa: $65.51 (union)Clare: $66.53 (union)Clinton: $30.66 (survey)Crawford: $66.53 (union)Delta: $65.51 (union)Dickinson: $65.51 (union)Eaton: $30.66 (survey)Emmet: $30.07 (survey)Genesee: $66.53 (union)Gladwin: $20.22 (survey)Gogebic: $65.51 (union)Grand Traverse: $30.07 (survey)Gratiot: $66.53 (union)Hillsdale: $66.53 (union)Houghton: $65.51 (union)Huron: $66.53 (union)Ingham: $28.91 (survey)Ionia: $66.53 (union)Iosco: $15.00 (survey)Iron: $65.51 (union)Isabella: $27.30 (survey)Jackson: $66.53 (union)Kalamazoo: $67.50 (union)Kalkaska: $30.07 (survey)Kent: $29.33 (survey)Keweenaw: $65.51 (union)Lake: $66.53 (union)Lapeer: $66.53 (union)Leelanau: $30.07 (survey)Lenawee: $38.80 (survey)Livingston: $66.53 (union)Luce: $65.51 (union)Mackinac: $65.51 (union)Macomb: $70.69 (union)Manistee: $30.07 (survey)Marquette: $65.51 (union)Mason: $66.53 (union)Mecosta: $66.53 (union)Menominee: $65.51 (union)Midland: $66.53 (union)Missaukee: $66.53 (union)Monroe: $70.69 (union)Montcalm: $66.53 (union)Montmorency: $66.53 (union)Muskegon: $66.53 (union)Newaygo: $66.53 (union)Oakland: $70.69 (union)Oceana: $66.53 (union)Ogemaw: $66.53 (union)Ontonagon: $65.51 (union)Osceola: $66.53 (union)Oscoda: $66.53 (union)Otsego: $66.53 (union)Ottawa: $66.53 (union)Presque Isle: $66.53 (union)Roscommon: $66.53 (union)Saginaw: $32.15 (survey)St. Clair: $70.69 (union)St. Joseph: $66.53 (union)Sanilac: $34.93 (survey)Schoolcraft: $65.51 (union)Shiawassee: $66.53 (union)Tuscola: $16.10 (survey)Van Buren: $66.53 (union)Washtenaw: $70.69 (union)Wayne: $70.69 (union)Wexford: $30.07 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$30.66$65.51$66.53survey 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)$20$40$60$80/hrMonroe (Monroe): market median $29.29, prevailing (union) $70.69, gap +$41.40Monroe (Monroe)+$41.40Washtenaw (Ann Arbor): market median $30.05, prevailing (union) $70.69, gap +$40.64Washtenaw (Ann Arbor)+$40.64Berrien (Niles): market median $28.69, prevailing (union) $67.50, gap +$38.81Berrien (Niles)+$38.81Macomb (Detroit): market median $32.76, prevailing (union) $70.69, gap +$37.93Macomb (Detroit)+$37.93Muskegon (Muskegon): market median $28.68, prevailing (union) $66.53, gap +$37.85Muskegon (Muskegon)+$37.85Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo): market median $29.68, prevailing (union) $67.50, gap +$37.82Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo)+$37.82Jackson (Jackson): market median $28.78, prevailing (union) $66.53, gap +$37.75Jackson (Jackson)+$37.75Barry (Grand Rapids): market median $30.70, prevailing (union) $66.53, gap +$35.83Barry (Grand Rapids)+$35.83Midland (Midland): market median $31.59, prevailing (union) $66.53, gap +$34.94Midland (Midland)+$34.94Genesee (Flint): market median $36.12, prevailing (union) $66.53, gap +$30.41Genesee (Flint)+$30.41Calhoun (Battle Creek): market median $37.51, prevailing (union) $67.50, gap +$29.99Calhoun (Battle Creek)+$29.99Cass (South Bend): market median $38.68, prevailing (union) $67.50, gap +$28.82Cass (South Bend)+$28.82Saginaw (Saginaw): market median $28.76, prevailing (survey) $32.15, gap +$3.39Saginaw (Saginaw)+$3.39Clinton (Lansing): market median $29.52, prevailing (survey) $30.66, gap +$1.14Clinton (Lansing)+$1.14Benzie (Traverse City): market median $29.42, prevailing (survey) $30.07, gap +$0.65Benzie (Traverse City)+$0.65Bay (Bay City): market median $36.21, prevailing (survey) $24.97, gap −$11.24Bay (Bay City)−$11.24
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Michigan.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
MacombUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$45.34$25.35$70.69MI20260091
MonroeUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$45.34$25.35$70.69MI20260092
OaklandUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$45.34$25.35$70.69MI20260095
St. ClairUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$45.34$25.35$70.69MI20260098
WashtenawUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$45.34$25.35$70.69MI20260100
WayneUnion ENGI0324-017 2025-06-01$45.34$25.35$70.69MI20260101
BerrienUnion ENGI0324-002 2024-06-01$42.25$25.25$67.50MI20260078
CalhounUnion ENGI0324-002 2024-06-01$42.25$25.25$67.50MI20260079
CassUnion ENGI0324-002 2024-06-01$42.25$25.25$67.50MI20260080
KalamazooUnion ENGI0324-002 2024-06-01$42.25$25.25$67.50MI20260087
AlconaUnion ENGI0324-020 2024-06-01$41.28$25.25$66.53MI20260102
AlleganUnion ENGI0324-027 2024-06-01$41.28$25.25$66.53MI20260104
AlpenaUnion ENGI0324-020 2024-06-01$41.28$25.25$66.53MI20260105
ArenacUnion ENGI0324-022 2024-06-01$41.28$25.25$66.53MI20260107
BarryUnion ENGI0324-034 2024-06-01$41.28$25.25$66.53MI20260076

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Michigan prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Michigan?

211.1kConstruction jobsMichigan, 2026-08
-1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025211kAug 2026
Construction employment in Michigan (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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Dickinson County707$102,654$1,974
Kalkaska County317$100,718$1,937
Oakland County21,304$95,370$1,834
Monroe County1,461$95,332$1,833
Wayne County16,808$92,147$1,772
Genesee County5,228$86,793$1,669
Muskegon County1,898$84,641$1,628
Macomb County12,658$84,297$1,621
Washtenaw County3,154$84,026$1,616
Kent County13,928$83,955$1,615
Kalamazoo County4,400$82,733$1,591
Calhoun County1,463$82,475$1,586

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Michigan

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Michigan?

The median heavy equipment operator in Michigan earned $30.14 an hour ($62,690 a year) in May 2025, 5% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $26.30–$37.70; the top 10% earn more than $43.55.

Where does Michigan rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Michigan ranks 19th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $30.14 an hour, and 22nd after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Michigan?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 62 counties, with a typical package of $66.53 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Michigan?

BLS counted 9,500 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Michigan in May 2025, 2.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.70; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan 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.