Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Nebraska

Median $28.06 an hour for 3,180 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.06/hrMedian hourly wageNebraska, May data
$58,360/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.45 – $36.4010th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,180Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Heavy equipment operator pay in Nebraska: the full range

Wage percentiles, NebraskaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNebraska: 10th $21.45 · 25th $23.05 · median $28.06 · 75th $30.52 · 90th $36.40Nebraska$28.06$21.45$36.40United 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: Nebraska vs United States, May 2025.

Nebraska ranks 33rd of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 24th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.14). 3,180 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.45 – $23.05$44,620 – $47,940roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.05 – $30.52$47,940 – $63,480the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$30.52 – $36.40$63,480 – $75,700the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Nebraska

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrLincoln: $29.24Lincoln$29.24Omaha: $28.86Omaha$28.86Sioux City: $28.43Sioux City$28.43Grand Island: $26.45Grand Island$26.45
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Nebraska, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Lincoln$21.91$29.24$31.92$35.264904% above
Omaha$22.54$28.86$31.40$37.461,3803% above
Sioux City$22.57$28.43$32.87$35.112001% above
Grand Island$20.25$26.45$30.51$32.991206% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Nebraska over time

Nebraska, 1999-2025NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$28.06Nebraska
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Nebraska vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNebraska $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.99$27.03$15.313,930
2000$14.47$27.05$15.993,060
2001$14.64$26.61$16.422,820
2002$14.90$26.66$16.942,450
2003$14.61$25.56$16.842,220
2004$14.11$24.05$17.002,690
2005$14.47$23.85$17.232,840
2006$15.17$24.23$17.743,200
2007$16.13$25.05$18.332,860
2008$15.13$22.62$18.883,480
2009$15.49$23.24$19.122,860
2010$15.78$23.30$19.422,500
2011$16.88$24.16$19.961,970
2012$17.03$23.88$20.132,140
2013$17.18$23.74$20.452,290
2014$17.69$24.06$20.922,460
2015$17.89$24.30$21.442,700
2016$18.45$24.75$22.062,370
2017$19.13$25.13$22.612,700
2018$19.81$25.40$22.982,850
2019$21.91$27.59$23.553,260
2020$22.70$28.24$23.932,890
2021$22.49$26.72$23.253,020
2022$22.98$25.28$24.733,080
2023$24.46$25.84$27.003,320
2024$27.52$28.24$28.233,180
2025$28.06$28.06$28.783,180

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Nebraska changed by +15.5% over the last ten years of data and by +1.7% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Nebraska?

-2.5%Jobs since 20193,260 then, 3,180 in 2025
+17.8%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 32nd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Nebraska has changed by -19.1%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -2.5%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Nebraska vs United States, 1999 = 100NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages050100150200200020052010201520202025147United States81Nebraska
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Nebraska vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNebraska jobsNebraska indexUS index
19993,930100100
20003,06078103
20012,82072109
20022,45062106
20032,22056106
20042,69068110
20052,84072117
20063,20081121
20072,86073124
20083,48088123
20092,86073114
20102,50064103
20111,97050103
20122,14054103
20132,29058105
20142,46063106
20152,70069110
20162,37060110
20172,70069113
20182,85072118
20193,26083125
20202,89074124
20213,02077125
20223,08078130
20233,32084139
20243,18081145
20253,18081147

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 Nebraska

+6.1%Projected growth in Nebraska2024–2034, state agency
290Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
3,230Jobs in 20243,420 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Nebraska's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +6.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,230 to 3,420, with about 290 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,180 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Nebraska 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 Nebraska

On federally funded construction in Nebraska, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 93 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $24.04). 93 of the 93 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Adams County at $24.04). The market median for the state is $28.06.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NEAdams: $24.04 (survey)Antelope: $24.04 (survey)Arthur: $23.08 (survey)Banner: $23.08 (survey)Blaine: $24.04 (survey)Boone: $24.04 (survey)Box Butte: $23.08 (survey)Boyd: $24.04 (survey)Brown: $24.04 (survey)Buffalo: $24.04 (survey)Burt: $24.04 (survey)Butler: $24.04 (survey)Cass: $26.67 (survey)Cedar: $24.04 (survey)Chase: $23.08 (survey)Cherry: $23.08 (survey)Cheyenne: $23.08 (survey)Clay: $24.04 (survey)Colfax: $24.04 (survey)Cuming: $24.04 (survey)Custer: $24.04 (survey)Dakota: $25.61 (survey)Dawes: $23.08 (survey)Dawson: $23.08 (survey)Deuel: $23.08 (survey)Dixon: $25.61 (survey)Dodge: $24.04 (survey)Douglas: $28.27 (survey)Dundy: $23.08 (survey)Fillmore: $24.04 (survey)Franklin: $24.04 (survey)Frontier: $23.08 (survey)Furnas: $23.08 (survey)Gage: $24.04 (survey)Garden: $23.08 (survey)Garfield: $24.04 (survey)Gosper: $23.08 (survey)Grant: $23.08 (survey)Greeley: $24.04 (survey)Hall: $24.04 (survey)Hamilton: $24.04 (survey)Harlan: $24.04 (survey)Hayes: $23.08 (survey)Hitchcock: $23.08 (survey)Holt: $24.04 (survey)Hooker: $23.08 (survey)Howard: $24.04 (survey)Jefferson: $24.04 (survey)Johnson: $24.04 (survey)Kearney: $24.04 (survey)Keith: $23.08 (survey)Keya Paha: $24.04 (survey)Kimball: $23.08 (survey)Knox: $24.04 (survey)Lancaster: $25.61 (survey)Lincoln: $23.08 (survey)Logan: $23.08 (survey)Loup: $24.04 (survey)McPherson: $23.08 (survey)Madison: $24.04 (survey)Merrick: $24.04 (survey)Morrill: $23.08 (survey)Nance: $24.04 (survey)Nemaha: $24.04 (survey)Nuckolls: $24.04 (survey)Otoe: $24.04 (survey)Pawnee: $24.04 (survey)Perkins: $23.08 (survey)Phelps: $24.04 (survey)Pierce: $24.04 (survey)Platte: $24.04 (survey)Polk: $24.04 (survey)Red Willow: $23.08 (survey)Richardson: $24.04 (survey)Rock: $24.04 (survey)Saline: $24.04 (survey)Sarpy: $26.67 (survey)Saunders: $25.61 (survey)Scotts Bluff: $23.08 (survey)Seward: $25.61 (survey)Sheridan: $23.08 (survey)Sherman: $24.04 (survey)Sioux: $23.08 (survey)Stanton: $24.04 (survey)Thayer: $24.04 (survey)Thomas: $23.08 (survey)Thurston: $24.04 (survey)Valley: $24.04 (survey)Washington: $26.67 (survey)Wayne: $24.04 (survey)Webster: $24.04 (survey)Wheeler: $24.04 (survey)York: $24.04 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$24.04survey 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)$22$24$26$28$30/hrDouglas (Omaha): market median $28.86, prevailing (survey) $28.27, gap −$0.59Douglas (Omaha)−$0.59Hall (Grand Island): market median $26.45, prevailing (survey) $24.04, gap −$2.41Hall (Grand Island)−$2.41Dakota (Sioux City): market median $28.43, prevailing (survey) $25.61, gap −$2.82Dakota (Sioux City)−$2.82Lancaster (Lincoln): market median $29.24, prevailing (survey) $25.61, gap −$3.63Lancaster (Lincoln)−$3.63
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Nebraska.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
DouglasSurvey SUNE2011-031 2011-10-27$22.55$5.72$28.27NE20260057
CassSurvey SUNE2011-030 2011-10-27$21.20$5.47$26.67NE20260056
SarpySurvey SUNE2011-033 2011-10-27$21.20$5.47$26.67NE20260059
WashingtonSurvey SUNE2011-036 2011-10-27$21.20$5.47$26.67NE20260062
DakotaSurvey SUNE2011-037 2011-10-27$20.68$4.93$25.61NE20260063
DixonSurvey SUNE2011-037 2011-10-27$20.68$4.93$25.61NE20260063
LancasterSurvey SUNE2011-032 2011-10-27$20.68$4.93$25.61NE20260058
SaundersSurvey SUNE2011-034 2011-10-27$20.68$4.93$25.61NE20260060
SewardSurvey SUNE2011-035 2011-10-27$20.68$4.93$25.61NE20260061
AdamsSurvey SUNE2012-001 2012-04-19$21.82$2.22$24.04NE20260064
AntelopeSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$21.82$2.22$24.04NE20260078
BlaineSurvey SUNE2012-017 2012-04-19$21.82$2.22$24.04NE20260080
BooneSurvey SUNE2012-002 2012-04-19$21.82$2.22$24.04NE20260065
BoydSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$21.82$2.22$24.04NE20260078
BrownSurvey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19$21.82$2.22$24.04NE20260078

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Nebraska prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Nebraska?

70.4kConstruction jobsNebraska, 2026-09
+7.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k20k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202570kSep 2026
Construction employment in Nebraska (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 58 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 30,915 in 2015 to 40,806 in 2025, +32.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Sarpy County5257,555$74,555$1,434
Douglas County1,34614,088$73,877$1,421
Washington County90558$70,250$1,351
Adams County66671$69,388$1,334
Hamilton County32220$67,950$1,307
Dodge County86639$67,910$1,306
Lancaster County7667,227$67,672$1,301
Lincoln County70597$67,340$1,295
Platte County88789$67,272$1,294
Merrick County20117$66,920$1,287
Antelope County839$66,896$1,286
Phelps County24177$64,452$1,239

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Nebraska

More on Nebraska

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Nebraska?

The median heavy equipment operator in Nebraska earned $28.06 an hour ($58,360 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $23.05–$30.52; the top 10% earn more than $36.40.

Where does Nebraska rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Nebraska ranks 33rd of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $28.06 an hour, and 24th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Nebraska?

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

How many heavy equipment operators work in Nebraska?

BLS counted 3,180 heavy equipment operators in Nebraska in May 2025, 3.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.01; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Nebraska?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Nebraska went from 2,700 in 2015 to 3,180 in 2025, +17.8%, and -2.5% since 2019. Nebraska's labor market agency projects +6.1% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 3,230 to 3,420 jobs.

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

Nebraska projects about 290 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, Nebraska 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Nebraska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.