Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Missouri

Median $29.10 an hour for 10,470 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$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 2026-11-13

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 heavy 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 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$20.81 – $23.21$43,290 – $48,290roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.21 – $40.58$48,290 – $84,400the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$40.58 – $45.25$84,400 – $94,130the 75th to 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 heavy equipment operators by metro area in Missouri, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
St. Louis$22.70$39.56$41.60$48.474,19036% above
Jefferson City$21.78$34.20$38.86$43.2041018% above
Kansas City$22.72$30.80$33.30$46.564,1106% above
St. Joseph$20.13$30.20$34.95$44.473904% above
Cape Girardeau$18.74$29.56$34.33$43.211302% above
Columbia$20.09$27.29$30.53$43.623106% below
Springfield$21.10$25.64$28.94$43.1953012% below
Joplin$18.43$25.58$29.85$38.6833012% below

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

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 heavy 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 and by -6.3% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Missouri?

+38.1%Jobs since 20197,580 then, 10,470 in 2025
+61.8%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 23rd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Missouri has changed by +8.8%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +38.1%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Missouri vs United States, 1999 = 100MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025147United States109Missouri
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Missouri vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMissouri jobsMissouri indexUS index
19999,620100100
20008,77091103
20018,54089109
20028,87092106
20038,37087106
20048,45088110
20058,77091117
20069,08094121
20078,90092124
20089,04094123
20097,08074114
20106,57068103
20116,46067103
20126,27065103
20136,21065105
20146,58068106
20156,47067110
20166,55068110
20177,08074113
20187,29076118
20197,58079125
20207,66080124
20217,71080125
20228,23086130
20239,20096139
20248,75091145
202510,470109147

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 Missouri

+4.0%Projected growth in Missouri2024–2034, state agency
940Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
10,950Jobs in 202411,390 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Missouri's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +4.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 10,950 to 11,390, with about 940 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 10,470 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Missouri 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 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 2026-11-13. 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?

163.2kConstruction jobsMissouri, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025163kSep 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. Across the 91 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 71,820 in 2015 to 91,804 in 2025, +27.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Dunklin County1268$97,322$1,872
St. Louis city2435,141$97,072$1,867
Buchanan County1231,388$91,358$1,757
St. Louis County1,32621,744$89,441$1,720
Jackson County1,10114,997$88,854$1,709
Camden County150804$78,244$1,505
Jasper County1551,635$77,303$1,487
Ste. Genevieve County48438$76,951$1,480
St. Charles County7486,796$75,773$1,457
Cole County1892,285$74,999$1,442
Marion County18129$74,165$1,426
Clay County3813,500$73,760$1,418

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Missouri

More on 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 heavy equipment operators in Missouri in May 2025, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.16; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Missouri?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Missouri went from 6,470 in 2015 to 10,470 in 2025, +61.8%, and +38.1% since 2019. Missouri's labor market agency projects +4.0% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 10,950 to 11,390 jobs.

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

Missouri projects about 940 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, Missouri 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: Missouri labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.