Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Minnesota

Median $38.04 an hour for 8,590 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$38.04/hrMedian hourly wageMinnesota, May data
$79,130/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$26.91 – $49.0110th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,590Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Minnesota: the full range

Wage percentiles, MinnesotaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMinnesota: 10th $26.91 · 25th $30.44 · median $38.04 · 75th $46.03 · 90th $49.01Minnesota$38.04$26.91$49.01United 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: Minnesota vs United States, May 2025.

Minnesota ranks 8th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 5th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $38.58). 8,590 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$26.91 – $30.44$55,960 – $63,310roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$30.44 – $46.03$63,310 – $95,740the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$46.03 – $49.01$95,740 – $101,930the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Minnesota

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrMinneapolis: $40.07Minneapolis$40.07Rochester: $38.26Rochester$38.26St. Cloud: $38.24St. Cloud$38.24Mankato: $37.77Mankato$37.77Duluth: $36.08Duluth$36.08La Crosse: $34.34La Crosse$34.34Fargo: $29.66Fargo$29.66Grand Forks: $29.58Grand Forks$29.58Sioux Falls: $29.31Sioux Falls$29.31
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Minnesota, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Minneapolis$28.89$40.07$38.23$50.124,2705% above
Rochester$29.71$38.26$42.14$46.932901% above
St. Cloud$28.35$38.24$43.65$47.317001% above
Mankato$24.52$37.77$41.51$44.101501% below
Duluth$22.98$36.08$40.63$45.747705% below
La Crosse$23.40$34.34$37.41$48.1512010% below
Fargo$23.25$29.66$32.63$39.2296022% below
Grand Forks$23.56$29.58$34.12$45.9537022% below
Sioux Falls$23.23$29.31$32.35$37.1163023% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Minnesota over time

Minnesota, 1999-2025MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$38.04Minnesota$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Minnesota vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMinnesota $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.13$36.97$15.317,290
2000$19.99$37.37$15.998,390
2001$20.40$37.08$16.428,560
2002$20.27$36.27$16.949,080
2003$20.25$35.43$16.848,680
2004$21.87$37.27$17.009,270
2005$21.91$36.12$17.239,930
2006$23.21$37.06$17.749,960
2007$23.70$36.80$18.339,330
2008$24.14$36.10$18.888,900
2009$24.14$36.23$19.128,710
2010$24.06$35.52$19.427,720
2011$23.46$33.58$19.967,910
2012$23.06$32.34$20.138,270
2013$23.90$33.03$20.458,650
2014$26.06$35.44$20.929,470
2015$27.30$37.08$21.449,810
2016$28.76$38.58$22.0610,360
2017$29.09$38.21$22.6110,520
2018$31.13$39.91$22.9810,010
2019$32.55$40.99$23.5510,240
2020$33.92$42.19$23.939,270
2021$30.49$36.23$23.257,960
2022$36.00$39.60$24.737,520
2023$36.71$38.79$27.007,020
2024$37.78$38.77$28.238,290
2025$38.04$38.04$28.788,590

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Minnesota changed by +2.6% over the last ten years of data and by -7.2% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Minnesota?

-16.1%Jobs since 201910,240 then, 8,590 in 2025
-12.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 35th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Minnesota has changed by +17.8%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -16.1%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Minnesota vs United States, 1999 = 100MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160200020052010201520202025147United States118Minnesota
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Minnesota vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMinnesota jobsMinnesota indexUS index
19997,290100100
20008,390115103
20018,560117109
20029,080125106
20038,680119106
20049,270127110
20059,930136117
20069,960137121
20079,330128124
20088,900122123
20098,710120114
20107,720106103
20117,910108103
20128,270113103
20138,650119105
20149,470130106
20159,810135110
201610,360142110
201710,520144113
201810,010137118
201910,240140125
20209,270127124
20217,960109125
20227,520103130
20237,02096139
20248,290114145
20258,590118147

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 Minnesota

+6.1%Projected growth in Minnesota2024–2034, state agency
730Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
8,220Jobs in 20248,720 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Minnesota's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +6.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,220 to 8,720, with about 730 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 8,590 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Minnesota 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 Minnesota

On federally funded construction in Minnesota, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 87 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $82.86). The market median for the state is $38.04.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MNAitkin: $85.21 (survey)Anoka: $85.21 (survey)Becker: $66.20 (survey)Beltrami: $85.21 (survey)Benton: $74.45 (survey)Big Stone: $66.20 (survey)Blue Earth: $85.21 (survey)Brown: $85.21 (survey)Carlton: $85.21 (survey)Carver: $85.21 (survey)Cass: $85.21 (survey)Chippewa: $66.20 (survey)Chisago: $85.21 (survey)Clay: $66.20 (survey)Clearwater: $64.25 (survey)Cook: $74.45 (survey)Cottonwood: $82.86 (survey)Crow Wing: $68.09 (survey)Dakota: $85.21 (survey)Dodge: $85.21 (survey)Douglas: $78.24 (survey)Faribault: $85.21 (survey)Fillmore: $85.21 (survey)Freeborn: $85.21 (survey)Goodhue: $85.21 (survey)Grant: $66.20 (survey)Hennepin: $85.21 (survey)Houston: $68.09 (survey)Hubbard: $66.14 (survey)Isanti: $85.21 (survey)Itasca: $85.21 (survey)Jackson: $78.24 (survey)Kanabec: $66.14 (survey)Kandiyohi: $74.45 (survey)Kittson: $16.11 (survey)Koochiching: $85.21 (survey)Lac qui Parle: $66.20 (survey)Lake: $85.21 (survey)Lake of the Woods: $64.25 (survey)Le Sueur: $85.21 (survey)Lincoln: $75.29 (survey)Lyon: $82.86 (survey)McLeod: $85.21 (survey)Mahnomen: $66.20 (survey)Marshall: $64.25 (survey)Martin: $85.21 (survey)Meeker: $80.43 (survey)Mille Lacs: $68.09 (survey)Morrison: $80.43 (survey)Mower: $85.21 (survey)Murray: $82.86 (survey)Nicollet: $85.21 (survey)Nobles: $78.24 (survey)Norman: $66.20 (survey)Olmsted: $85.21 (survey)Otter Tail: $78.24 (survey)Pennington: $64.25 (survey)Pine: $68.09 (survey)Pipestone: $75.29 (survey)Polk: $66.20 (survey)Pope: $72.39 (survey)Ramsey: $85.21 (survey)Red Lake: $57.60 (survey)Redwood: $82.86 (survey)Renville: $85.21 (survey)Rice: $85.21 (survey)Rock: $78.24 (survey)Roseau: $64.25 (survey)St. Louis: $85.21 (survey)Scott: $85.21 (survey)Sherburne: $85.21 (survey)Sibley: $85.21 (survey)Stearns: $80.43 (survey)Steele: $85.21 (survey)Stevens: $66.20 (survey)Swift: $66.20 (survey)Todd: $80.43 (survey)Traverse: $57.60 (survey)Wabasha: $85.21 (survey)Wadena: $80.43 (survey)Waseca: $85.21 (survey)Washington: $85.21 (survey)Watonwan: $85.21 (survey)Wilkin: $82.48 (survey)Winona: $85.21 (survey)Wright: $85.21 (survey)Yellow Medicine: $82.86 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$66.20$78.24survey 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$40$60$80$100/hrCarlton (Duluth): market median $36.08, prevailing (survey) $85.21, gap +$49.13Carlton (Duluth)+$49.13Rock (Sioux Falls): market median $29.31, prevailing (survey) $78.24, gap +$48.93Rock (Sioux Falls)+$48.93Blue Earth (Mankato): market median $37.77, prevailing (survey) $85.21, gap +$47.44Blue Earth (Mankato)+$47.44Dodge (Rochester): market median $38.26, prevailing (survey) $85.21, gap +$46.95Dodge (Rochester)+$46.95Anoka (Minneapolis): market median $40.07, prevailing (survey) $85.21, gap +$45.14Anoka (Minneapolis)+$45.14Stearns (St. Cloud): market median $38.24, prevailing (survey) $80.43, gap +$42.19Stearns (St. Cloud)+$42.19Polk (Grand Forks): market median $29.58, prevailing (survey) $66.20, gap +$36.62Polk (Grand Forks)+$36.62Clay (Fargo): market median $29.66, prevailing (survey) $66.20, gap +$36.54Clay (Fargo)+$36.54Houston (La Crosse): market median $34.34, prevailing (survey) $68.09, gap +$33.75Houston (La Crosse)+$33.75
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Minnesota.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
Aitkinstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260027
Anokastate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260028
Beltramistate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260030
Blue Earthstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260033
Brownstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260034
Carltonstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260035
Carverstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260036
Cassstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260037
Chisagostate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260039
Dakotastate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260045
Dodgestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260046
Faribaultstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260048
Fillmorestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260049
Freebornstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260050
Goodhuestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$54.21$31.00$85.21MN20260051

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

Is construction work growing in Minnesota?

161.1kConstruction jobsMinnesota, 2026-09
+5.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025161kSep 2026
Construction employment in Minnesota (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 78 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 70,177 in 2015 to 87,254 in 2025, +24.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Ramsey County5399,056$106,136$2,041
Hennepin County1,56421,844$98,504$1,894
Goodhue County96777$96,065$1,847
Carlton County59440$95,378$1,834
Washington County4343,021$93,638$1,801
Dakota County7496,693$92,730$1,783
Scott County4093,459$89,101$1,713
Kanabec County38200$87,888$1,690
Anoka County8437,249$87,449$1,682
Carver County2361,779$87,233$1,678
Le Sueur County96414$85,520$1,645
Chisago County158763$85,347$1,641

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Minnesota

More on Minnesota

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Minnesota?

The median heavy equipment operator in Minnesota earned $38.04 an hour ($79,130 a year) in May 2025, 32% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $30.44–$46.03; the top 10% earn more than $49.01.

Where does Minnesota rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Minnesota ranks 8th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $38.04 an hour, and 5th after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.6, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Minnesota?

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

How many heavy equipment operators work in Minnesota?

BLS counted 8,590 heavy equipment operators in Minnesota in May 2025, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.95; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Minnesota?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Minnesota went from 9,810 in 2015 to 8,590 in 2025, -12.4%, and -16.1% since 2019. Minnesota's labor market agency projects +6.1% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 8,220 to 8,720 jobs.

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

Minnesota projects about 730 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, Minnesota 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: Minnesota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.