Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Mississippi

Median $22.79 an hour for 4,170 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$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

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Mississippi: the full range

Wage percentiles, MississippiMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMississippi: 10th $17.39 · 25th $19.00 · median $22.79 · 75th $27.50 · 90th $32.23Mississippi$22.79$17.39$32.23United 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: Mississippi vs United States, May 2025.

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 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.39 – $19.00$36,180 – $39,530roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$19.00 – $27.50$39,530 – $57,200the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$27.50 – $32.23$57,200 – $67,030the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Mississippi

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrMemphis: $25.90Memphis$25.90Gulfport: $23.42Gulfport$23.42Jackson: $22.76Jackson$22.76Hattiesburg: $22.61Hattiesburg$22.61
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Mississippi, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Memphis$19.50$25.90$28.09$35.001,14014% above
Gulfport$17.29$23.42$26.02$34.245103% above
Jackson$17.68$22.76$25.57$29.26870about the same as
Hattiesburg$17.39$22.61$25.81$35.051801% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Mississippi over time

Mississippi, 1999-2025MississippiUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$22.79Mississippi
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Mississippi vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMississippi $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$11.36$21.95$15.313,210
2000$12.12$22.66$15.992,960
2001$12.06$21.92$16.422,930
2002$12.02$21.51$16.943,160
2003$11.88$20.79$16.843,070
2004$12.02$20.49$17.003,590
2005$12.30$20.28$17.233,990
2006$12.81$20.46$17.744,960
2007$13.17$20.45$18.334,610
2008$14.33$21.43$18.884,550
2009$14.48$21.73$19.124,030
2010$15.03$22.19$19.423,780
2011$15.21$21.77$19.963,530
2012$15.81$22.17$20.133,720
2013$16.24$22.44$20.453,250
2014$17.50$23.80$20.923,130
2015$17.48$23.74$21.442,550
2016$18.10$24.28$22.062,360
2017$17.08$22.43$22.612,340
2018$17.65$22.63$22.982,750
2019$17.28$21.76$23.552,890
2020$17.96$22.34$23.933,330
2021$18.30$21.74$23.253,550
2022$19.71$21.68$24.733,910
2023$20.80$21.98$27.004,320
2024$22.13$22.71$28.234,150
2025$22.79$22.79$28.784,170

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Mississippi changed by -4.0% over the last ten years of data and by +4.7% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Mississippi?

+44.3%Jobs since 20192,890 then, 4,170 in 2025
+63.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 22nd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Mississippi has changed by +29.9%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +44.3%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Mississippi vs United States, 1999 = 100MississippiUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025147United States130Mississippi
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Mississippi vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMississippi jobsMississippi indexUS index
19993,210100100
20002,96092103
20012,93091109
20023,16098106
20033,07096106
20043,590112110
20053,990124117
20064,960154121
20074,610144124
20084,550142123
20094,030126114
20103,780118103
20113,530110103
20123,720116103
20133,250101105
20143,13098106
20152,55079110
20162,36074110
20172,34073113
20182,75086118
20192,89090125
20203,330104124
20213,550111125
20223,910122130
20234,320135139
20244,150129145
20254,170130147

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 Mississippi

+5.8%Projected growth in Mississippi2024–2034, state agency
390Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
4,380Jobs in 20244,640 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Mississippi's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +5.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,380 to 4,640, with about 390 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,170 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Mississippi 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 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
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MSAdams: $19.32 (survey)Alcorn: $18.00 (survey)Amite: $19.32 (survey)Attala: $18.00 (survey)Benton: $35.75 (survey)Bolivar: $18.00 (survey)Calhoun: $18.00 (survey)Carroll: $18.00 (survey)Chickasaw: $18.00 (survey)Choctaw: $18.00 (survey)Claiborne: $19.32 (survey)Clarke: $19.32 (survey)Clay: $18.00 (survey)Coahoma: $18.00 (survey)Copiah: $35.75 (survey)Covington: $19.32 (survey)DeSoto: $35.75 (survey)Forrest: $17.53 (survey)Franklin: $19.32 (survey)George: $19.32 (survey)Greene: $19.32 (survey)Grenada: $18.00 (survey)Hancock: $19.51 (survey)Harrison: $19.55 (survey)Hinds: $35.75 (survey)Holmes: $18.00 (survey)Humphreys: $18.00 (survey)Issaquena: $19.32 (survey)Itawamba: $18.00 (survey)Jackson: $19.51 (survey)Jasper: $19.32 (survey)Jefferson: $19.32 (survey)Jefferson Davis: $19.32 (survey)Jones: $19.32 (survey)Kemper: $19.32 (survey)Lafayette: $18.00 (survey)Lamar: $17.53 (survey)Lauderdale: $19.32 (survey)Lawrence: $19.32 (survey)Leake: $19.32 (survey)Lee: $18.00 (survey)Leflore: $18.00 (survey)Lincoln: $19.32 (survey)Lowndes: $18.00 (survey)Madison: $35.75 (survey)Marion: $19.32 (survey)Marshall: $35.75 (survey)Monroe: $18.00 (survey)Montgomery: $18.00 (survey)Neshoba: $19.32 (survey)Newton: $19.32 (survey)Noxubee: $18.00 (survey)Oktibbeha: $18.00 (survey)Panola: $18.00 (survey)Pearl River: $19.32 (survey)Perry: $17.53 (survey)Pike: $19.32 (survey)Pontotoc: $18.00 (survey)Prentiss: $18.00 (survey)Quitman: $18.00 (survey)Rankin: $35.75 (survey)Scott: $19.32 (survey)Sharkey: $19.32 (survey)Simpson: $35.75 (survey)Smith: $19.32 (survey)Stone: $19.32 (survey)Sunflower: $18.00 (survey)Tallahatchie: $18.00 (survey)Tate: $35.75 (survey)Tippah: $18.00 (survey)Tishomingo: $18.00 (survey)Tunica: $35.75 (survey)Union: $18.00 (survey)Walthall: $19.32 (survey)Warren: $19.32 (survey)Washington: $18.00 (survey)Wayne: $19.32 (survey)Webster: $18.00 (survey)Wilkinson: $19.32 (survey)Winston: $18.00 (survey)Yalobusha: $18.00 (survey)Yazoo: $19.32 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$18.00$19.32survey 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)$10$20$30$40/hrCopiah (Jackson): market median $22.76, prevailing (survey) $35.75, gap +$12.99Copiah (Jackson)+$12.99Benton (Memphis): market median $25.90, prevailing (survey) $35.75, gap +$9.85Benton (Memphis)+$9.85Harrison (Gulfport): market median $23.42, prevailing (survey) $19.55, gap −$3.87Harrison (Gulfport)−$3.87Forrest (Hattiesburg): market median $22.61, prevailing (survey) $17.53, gap −$5.08Forrest (Hattiesburg)−$5.08
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Mississippi.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BentonSurvey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260054
CopiahSurvey SUMS2015-016 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260055
DeSotoSurvey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260054
HindsSurvey SUMS2015-012 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260051
MadisonSurvey SUMS2015-016 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260055
MarshallSurvey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260054
RankinSurvey SUMS2015-014 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260053
SimpsonSurvey SUMS2015-016 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260055
TateSurvey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260054
TunicaSurvey SUMS2015-015 2017-04-03$31.50$4.25$35.75MS20260054
HarrisonSurvey SUMS2015-011 2017-04-03$17.93$1.62$19.55MS20260050
HancockSurvey SUMS2015-010 2017-04-03$17.89$1.62$19.51MS20260049
JacksonSurvey SUMS2015-013 2017-04-03$17.89$1.62$19.51MS20260052
AdamsSurvey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03$18.00$1.32$19.32MS20260044
AmiteSurvey SUMS2015-005 2017-04-03$18.00$1.32$19.32MS20260044

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. 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?

55.6kConstruction jobsMississippi, 2026-09
+3.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k30k40k50k60k70k1990199520002005201020152020202556kSep 2026
Construction employment in Mississippi (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 55 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 21,883 in 2015 to 25,233 in 2025, +15.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Tunica County662$87,142$1,676
Neshoba County23516$85,944$1,653
Greene County660$82,741$1,591
Marion County35364$78,445$1,509
Madison County1961,494$74,410$1,431
Hancock County49425$72,537$1,395
Lowndes County881,212$71,442$1,374
George County24150$71,249$1,370
Attala County16235$69,767$1,342
DeSoto County2041,895$69,197$1,331
Yazoo County12185$68,659$1,320
Marshall County50383$67,354$1,295

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Mississippi

More on 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 heavy equipment operators in Mississippi in May 2025, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Mississippi?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Mississippi went from 2,550 in 2015 to 4,170 in 2025, +63.5%, and +44.3% since 2019. Mississippi's labor market agency projects +5.8% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 4,380 to 4,640 jobs.

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

Mississippi projects about 390 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, Mississippi 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: Mississippi labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.