Heavy equipment operator salary in Mississippi
Median $22.79 an hour for 4,170 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
$22.79/hrMedian hourly wageMississippi, May data
$47,410/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.39 – $32.2310th to 90th percentilehourly range
4,170Jobs countedemployer survey
Heavy equipment operator pay in Mississippi: the full range
Mississippi ranks 50th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 44th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.20). 4,170 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.39 – $19.00 | $36,180 – $39,530 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $19.00 – $27.50 | $39,530 – $57,200 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $27.50 – $32.23 | $57,200 – $67,030 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Mississippi
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $19.50 | $25.90 | $35.00 | 1,140 | 14% above |
| Gulfport | $17.29 | $23.42 | $34.24 | 510 | 3% above |
| Jackson | $17.68 | $22.76 | $29.26 | 870 | about the same as |
| Hattiesburg | $17.39 | $22.61 | $35.05 | 180 | 1% below |
Heavy equipment operator wages in Mississippi over time
Table
| Year | Mississippi $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.36 | $21.95 | $15.31 | 3,210 |
| 2000 | $12.12 | $22.66 | $15.99 | 2,960 |
| 2001 | $12.06 | $21.92 | $16.42 | 2,930 |
| 2002 | $12.02 | $21.51 | $16.94 | 3,160 |
| 2003 | $11.88 | $20.79 | $16.84 | 3,070 |
| 2004 | $12.02 | $20.49 | $17.00 | 3,590 |
| 2005 | $12.30 | $20.28 | $17.23 | 3,990 |
| 2006 | $12.81 | $20.46 | $17.74 | 4,960 |
| 2007 | $13.17 | $20.45 | $18.33 | 4,610 |
| 2008 | $14.33 | $21.43 | $18.88 | 4,550 |
| 2009 | $14.48 | $21.73 | $19.12 | 4,030 |
| 2010 | $15.03 | $22.19 | $19.42 | 3,780 |
| 2011 | $15.21 | $21.77 | $19.96 | 3,530 |
| 2012 | $15.81 | $22.17 | $20.13 | 3,720 |
| 2013 | $16.24 | $22.44 | $20.45 | 3,250 |
| 2014 | $17.50 | $23.80 | $20.92 | 3,130 |
| 2015 | $17.48 | $23.74 | $21.44 | 2,550 |
| 2016 | $18.10 | $24.28 | $22.06 | 2,360 |
| 2017 | $17.08 | $22.43 | $22.61 | 2,340 |
| 2018 | $17.65 | $22.63 | $22.98 | 2,750 |
| 2019 | $17.28 | $21.76 | $23.55 | 2,890 |
| 2020 | $17.96 | $22.34 | $23.93 | 3,330 |
| 2021 | $18.30 | $21.74 | $23.25 | 3,550 |
| 2022 | $19.71 | $21.68 | $24.73 | 3,910 |
| 2023 | $20.80 | $21.98 | $27.00 | 4,320 |
| 2024 | $22.13 | $22.71 | $28.23 | 4,150 |
| 2025 | $22.79 | $22.79 | $28.78 | 4,170 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Mississippi changed by -4.0% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Mississippi
On federally funded construction in Mississippi, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 82 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $19.32). 82 of the 82 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Adams County at $19.32). The market median for the state is $22.79.
Union contract rateSurvey rate
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | Survey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260054 |
| Copiah | Survey SUMS2015-016 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260055 |
| DeSoto | Survey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260054 |
| Hinds | Survey SUMS2015-012 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260051 |
| Madison | Survey SUMS2015-016 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260055 |
| Marshall | Survey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260054 |
| Rankin | Survey SUMS2015-014 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260053 |
| Simpson | Survey SUMS2015-016 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260055 |
| Tate | Survey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260054 |
| Tunica | Survey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03 | $31.50 | $4.25 | $35.75 | MS20260054 |
| Harrison | Survey SUMS2015-011 2017-04-03 | $17.93 | $1.62 | $19.55 | MS20260050 |
| Hancock | Survey SUMS2015-010 2017-04-03 | $17.89 | $1.62 | $19.51 | MS20260049 |
| Jackson | Survey SUMS2015-013 2017-04-03 | $17.89 | $1.62 | $19.51 | MS20260052 |
| Adams | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Amite | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Claiborne | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Clarke | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Covington | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Franklin | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| George | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Greene | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Issaquena | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Jasper | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Jefferson | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Jefferson Davis | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Jones | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Kemper | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Lauderdale | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Lawrence | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Leake | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Marion | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Neshoba | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Newton | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Pearl River | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Pike | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Scott | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Sharkey | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Smith | Survey SUMS2015-003 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260042 |
| Stone | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Walthall | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Warren | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Wayne | Survey SUMS2015-008 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260047 |
| Wilkinson | Survey SUMS2015-004 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260043 |
| Yazoo | Survey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $1.32 | $19.32 | MS20260044 |
| Alcorn | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Attala | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Bolivar | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Calhoun | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Carroll | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Chickasaw | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Choctaw | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Clay | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Coahoma | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Grenada | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Holmes | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Humphreys | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Itawamba | Survey SUMS2015-001 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260040 |
| Lafayette | Survey SUMS2015-002 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260041 |
| Lee | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Leflore | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Lowndes | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Monroe | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Montgomery | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Noxubee | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Oktibbeha | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Panola | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Pontotoc | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Prentiss | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Quitman | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Sunflower | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Tallahatchie | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Tippah | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Tishomingo | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Union | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Washington | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Webster | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Winston | Survey SUMS2015-006 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260045 |
| Yalobusha | Survey SUMS2015-007 2017-04-03 | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | MS20260046 |
| Forrest | Survey SUMS2015-009 2017-04-03 | $17.53 | $0.00 | $17.53 | MS20260048 |
| Lamar | Survey SUMS2015-017 2017-04-03 | $17.53 | $0.00 | $17.53 | MS20260056 |
| Perry | Survey SUMS2015-017 2017-04-03 | $17.53 | $0.00 | $17.53 | MS20260056 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Mississippi prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Mississippi?
55.9kConstruction jobsMississippi, 2026-08
+3.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunica County | 62 | $87,142 | $1,676 |
| Neshoba County | 516 | $85,944 | $1,653 |
| Greene County | 60 | $82,741 | $1,591 |
| Marion County | 364 | $78,445 | $1,509 |
| Madison County | 1,494 | $74,410 | $1,431 |
| Hancock County | 425 | $72,537 | $1,395 |
| Lowndes County | 1,212 | $71,442 | $1,374 |
| George County | 150 | $71,249 | $1,370 |
| Attala County | 235 | $69,767 | $1,342 |
| DeSoto County | 1,895 | $69,197 | $1,331 |
| Yazoo County | 185 | $68,659 | $1,320 |
| Marshall County | 383 | $67,354 | $1,295 |
| Alcorn County | 244 | $67,234 | $1,293 |
| Rankin County | 2,852 | $65,647 | $1,262 |
| Forrest County | 956 | $65,276 | $1,255 |
| Jackson County | 1,623 | $65,025 | $1,250 |
| Simpson County | 377 | $63,353 | $1,218 |
| Hinds County | 2,351 | $63,250 | $1,216 |
| Lafayette County | 337 | $62,622 | $1,204 |
| Leflore County | 358 | $62,487 | $1,202 |
| Itawamba County | 323 | $62,209 | $1,196 |
| Copiah County | 169 | $61,977 | $1,192 |
| Panola County | 299 | $61,934 | $1,191 |
| Pearl River County | 284 | $61,874 | $1,190 |
| Monroe County | 437 | $61,034 | $1,174 |
| Scott County | 100 | $60,151 | $1,157 |
| Sunflower County | 172 | $60,137 | $1,156 |
| Tippah County | 125 | $59,978 | $1,153 |
| Warren County | 249 | $59,225 | $1,139 |
| Tate County | 131 | $58,152 | $1,118 |
| Harrison County | 2,165 | $57,994 | $1,115 |
| Holmes County | 18 | $57,550 | $1,107 |
| Coahoma County | 73 | $57,163 | $1,099 |
| Lauderdale County | 700 | $56,131 | $1,079 |
| Grenada County | 173 | $55,514 | $1,068 |
| Adams County | 160 | $54,895 | $1,056 |
| Montgomery County | 90 | $54,748 | $1,053 |
| Lee County | 909 | $54,663 | $1,051 |
| Jones County | 562 | $54,277 | $1,044 |
| Tishomingo County | 96 | $54,063 | $1,040 |
| Bolivar County | 160 | $53,541 | $1,030 |
| Stone County | 128 | $52,359 | $1,007 |
| Lamar County | 394 | $52,348 | $1,007 |
| Union County | 121 | $52,029 | $1,001 |
| Oktibbeha County | 300 | $51,985 | $1,000 |
| Franklin County | 11 | $51,923 | $999 |
| Lincoln County | 266 | $51,416 | $989 |
| Prentiss County | 167 | $50,328 | $968 |
| Chickasaw County | 107 | $50,159 | $965 |
| Washington County | 217 | $50,004 | $962 |
| Newton County | 99 | $49,978 | $961 |
| Winston County | 90 | $49,544 | $953 |
| Jasper County | 78 | $49,016 | $943 |
| Yalobusha County | 44 | $48,931 | $941 |
| Pontotoc County | 160 | $48,411 | $931 |
| Clarke County | 34 | $46,682 | $898 |
| Clay County | 111 | $45,714 | $879 |
| Choctaw County | 24 | $44,717 | $860 |
| Amite County | 47 | $42,813 | $823 |
| Pike County | 154 | $41,542 | $799 |
| Carroll County | 49 | $40,559 | $780 |
| Covington County | 41 | $38,076 | $732 |
| Smith County | 25 | $24,070 | $463 |
| Benton County | — | — | — |
| Calhoun County | — | — | — |
| Claiborne County | — | — | — |
| Humphreys County | — | — | — |
| Jefferson County | — | — | — |
| Jefferson Davis County | — | — | — |
| Kemper County | — | — | — |
| Lawrence County | — | — | — |
| Leake County | — | — | — |
| Noxubee County | — | — | — |
| Perry County | — | — | — |
| Quitman County | — | — | — |
| Sharkey County | — | — | — |
| Tallahatchie County | — | — | — |
| Walthall County | — | — | — |
| Wayne County | — | — | — |
| Webster County | — | — | — |
| Wilkinson County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Mississippi
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in Mississippi?
The median heavy equipment operator in Mississippi earned $22.79 an hour ($47,410 a year) in May 2025, 21% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $19.00–$27.50; the top 10% earn more than $32.23.
Where does Mississippi rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
Mississippi ranks 50th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $22.79 an hour, and 44th after adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.0, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Mississippi?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Mississippi counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Mississippi?
BLS counted 4,170 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Mississippi in May 2025, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Mississippi 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.