Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Missouri

Median $29.10 an hour for 10,470 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$29.10/hrMedian hourly wageMissouri, May data
$60,540/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.81 – $45.2510th to 90th percentilehourly range
10,470Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Missouri: the full range

Wage percentiles, MissouriMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMissouri: 10th $20.81 · 25th $23.21 · median $29.10 · 75th $40.58 · 90th $45.25Missouri$29.10$20.81$45.25United 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: Missouri vs United States, May 2025.

Missouri ranks 28th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.05). 10,470 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$20.81 – $23.21$43,290 – $48,290roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$23.21 – $40.58$48,290 – $84,400the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$40.58 – $45.25$84,400 – $94,130the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Missouri

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrSt. Louis: $39.56St. Louis$39.56Jefferson City: $34.20Jefferson City$34.20Kansas City: $30.80Kansas City$30.80St. Joseph: $30.20St. Joseph$30.20Cape Girardeau: $29.56Cape Girardeau$29.56Columbia: $27.29Columbia$27.29Springfield: $25.64Springfield$25.64Joplin: $25.58Joplin$25.58
Median hourly wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators by metro area in Missouri, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
St. Louis$22.70$39.56$48.474,19036% above
Jefferson City$21.78$34.20$43.2041018% above
Kansas City$22.72$30.80$46.564,1106% above
St. Joseph$20.13$30.20$44.473904% above
Cape Girardeau$18.74$29.56$43.211302% above
Columbia$20.09$27.29$43.623106% below
Springfield$21.10$25.64$43.1953012% below
Joplin$18.43$25.58$38.6833012% below

Heavy equipment operator wages in Missouri over time

Missouri, 1999-2025MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.10Missouri$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, Missouri vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMissouri $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$17.87$34.53$15.319,620
2000$17.13$32.03$15.998,770
2001$17.98$32.69$16.428,540
2002$18.23$32.62$16.948,870
2003$18.22$31.88$16.848,370
2004$19.82$33.78$17.008,450
2005$19.88$32.77$17.238,770
2006$19.99$31.92$17.749,080
2007$20.98$32.58$18.338,900
2008$21.39$31.98$18.889,040
2009$24.38$36.59$19.127,080
2010$24.57$36.28$19.426,570
2011$24.32$34.81$19.966,460
2012$23.26$32.62$20.136,270
2013$22.33$30.86$20.456,210
2014$22.71$30.88$20.926,580
2015$24.07$32.69$21.446,470
2016$24.39$32.72$22.066,550
2017$24.96$32.78$22.617,080
2018$24.79$31.78$22.987,290
2019$24.65$31.04$23.557,580
2020$27.64$34.38$23.937,660
2021$29.50$35.05$23.257,710
2022$29.31$32.24$24.738,230
2023$29.80$31.49$27.009,200
2024$28.87$29.63$28.238,750
2025$29.10$29.10$28.7810,470

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Missouri changed by -11.0% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Missouri

On federally funded construction in Missouri, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 67 of the 115 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $69.44 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $31.12). 48 of the 115 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Adair County at $31.12). The market median for the state is $29.10.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MOAdair: $31.12 (survey)Andrew: $67.90 (union)Atchison: $31.12 (survey)Audrain: $31.12 (survey)Barry: $31.02 (survey)Barton: $31.02 (survey)Bates: $67.90 (union)Benton: $31.02 (survey)Bollinger: $73.68 (union)Boone: $69.44 (union)Buchanan: $67.90 (union)Butler: $69.44 (union)Caldwell: $67.90 (union)Callaway: $69.44 (union)Camden: $51.48 (union)Cape Girardeau: $73.68 (union)Carroll: $31.12 (survey)Carter: $69.44 (union)Cass: $67.90 (union)Cedar: $31.02 (survey)Chariton: $31.12 (survey)Christian: $73.68 (union)Clark: $31.12 (survey)Clay: $67.90 (union)Clinton: $67.90 (union)Cole: $69.44 (union)Cooper: $67.90 (union)Crawford: $69.44 (union)Dade: $31.02 (survey)Dallas: $73.68 (union)Daviess: $31.12 (survey)DeKalb: $67.90 (union)Dent: $69.44 (union)Douglas: $31.02 (survey)Dunklin: $69.44 (union)Franklin: $73.68 (union)Gasconade: $69.44 (union)Gentry: $31.12 (survey)Greene: $73.68 (union)Grundy: $31.12 (survey)Harrison: $31.12 (survey)Henry: $31.02 (survey)Hickory: $31.02 (survey)Holt: $31.12 (survey)Howard: $69.44 (union)Howell: $69.44 (union)Iron: $69.44 (union)Jackson: $67.90 (union)Jasper: $73.68 (union)Jefferson: $73.68 (union)Johnson: $31.02 (survey)Knox: $31.12 (survey)Laclede: $31.02 (survey)Lafayette: $67.90 (union)Lawrence: $27.27 (survey)Lewis: $31.12 (survey)Lincoln: $73.68 (union)Linn: $31.12 (survey)Livingston: $31.12 (survey)McDonald: $73.68 (union)Macon: $31.12 (survey)Madison: $69.44 (union)Maries: $69.44 (union)Marion: $31.12 (survey)Mercer: $31.12 (survey)Miller: $69.44 (union)Mississippi: $69.44 (union)Moniteau: $69.44 (union)Monroe: $31.12 (survey)Montgomery: $69.44 (union)Morgan: $69.44 (union)New Madrid: $69.44 (union)Newton: $73.68 (union)Nodaway: $31.12 (survey)Oregon: $69.44 (union)Osage: $69.44 (union)Ozark: $31.02 (survey)Pemiscot: $69.44 (union)Perry: $69.44 (union)Pettis: $31.02 (survey)Phelps: $69.44 (union)Pike: $31.12 (survey)Platte: $67.90 (union)Polk: $73.68 (union)Pulaski: $69.44 (union)Putnam: $31.12 (survey)Ralls: $31.12 (survey)Randolph: $31.12 (survey)Ray: $67.90 (union)Reynolds: $69.44 (union)Ripley: $69.44 (union)St. Charles: $73.68 (union)St. Clair: $31.02 (survey)Ste. Genevieve: $69.44 (union)St. Francois: $69.44 (union)St. Louis: $73.68 (union)Saline: $31.12 (survey)Schuyler: $31.12 (survey)Scotland: $31.12 (survey)Scott: $69.44 (union)Shannon: $69.44 (union)Shelby: $31.12 (survey)Stoddard: $69.44 (union)Stone: $31.02 (survey)Sullivan: $31.12 (survey)Taney: $31.02 (survey)Texas: $69.44 (union)Vernon: $31.02 (survey)Warren: $73.68 (union)Washington: $73.68 (union)Wayne: $69.44 (union)Webster: $73.68 (union)Worth: $31.12 (survey)Wright: $31.02 (survey)St. Louis: $73.68 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$31.12$69.44survey 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)$20$40$60$80/hrJasper (Joplin): market median $25.58, prevailing (union) $73.68, gap +$48.10Jasper (Joplin)+$48.10Christian (Springfield): market median $25.64, prevailing (union) $73.68, gap +$48.04Christian (Springfield)+$48.04Bollinger (Cape Girardeau): market median $29.56, prevailing (union) $73.68, gap +$44.12Bollinger (Cape Girardeau)+$44.12Boone (Columbia): market median $27.29, prevailing (union) $69.44, gap +$42.15Boone (Columbia)+$42.15Andrew (St. Joseph): market median $30.20, prevailing (union) $67.90, gap +$37.70Andrew (St. Joseph)+$37.70Bates (Kansas City): market median $30.80, prevailing (union) $67.90, gap +$37.10Bates (Kansas City)+$37.10Callaway (Jefferson City): market median $34.20, prevailing (union) $69.44, gap +$35.24Callaway (Jefferson City)+$35.24Franklin (St. Louis): market median $39.56, prevailing (union) $73.68, gap +$34.12Franklin (St. Louis)+$34.12
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Missouri.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BollingerUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260083
Cape GirardeauUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260083
ChristianUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260086
DallasUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260086
FranklinUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260074
GreeneUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260075
JasperUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260076
JeffersonUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260077
LincolnUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260087
McDonaldUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260088
NewtonUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260088
PolkUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260086
St. CharlesUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260087
St. LouisUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260089
WarrenUnion ENGI0513-023 2024-05-01$43.46$30.22$73.68MO20260087

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

Is construction work growing in Missouri?

165.4kConstruction jobsMissouri, 2026-08
+6.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025165kAug 2026
Construction employment in Missouri (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
Dunklin County68$97,322$1,872
St. Louis City5,141$97,072$1,867
Buchanan County1,388$91,358$1,757
St. Louis County21,744$89,441$1,720
Jackson County14,997$88,854$1,709
Camden County804$78,244$1,505
Jasper County1,635$77,303$1,487
Ste. Genevieve County438$76,951$1,480
St. Charles County6,796$75,773$1,457
Cole County2,285$74,999$1,442
Marion County129$74,165$1,426
Clay County3,500$73,760$1,418

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Missouri

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Missouri?

The median heavy equipment operator in Missouri earned $29.10 an hour ($60,540 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $23.21–$40.58; the top 10% earn more than $45.25.

Where does Missouri rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Missouri ranks 28th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $29.10 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.8, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Missouri?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 67 counties, with a typical package of $69.44 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Missouri?

BLS counted 10,470 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Missouri in May 2025, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.16; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

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