Heavy equipment operator salary in Nevada
Median $34.33 an hour for 5,410 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Heavy equipment operator pay in Nevada: the full range
Nevada ranks 15th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 13th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.33). 5,410 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $24.55 – $29.19 | $51,050 – $60,710 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.19 – $43.29 | $60,710 – $90,030 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $43.29 – $53.46 | $90,030 – $111,210 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Nevada
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reno | $26.35 | $35.22 | $51.99 | 1,290 | 3% above |
| Carson City | $23.93 | $31.16 | $38.06 | 80 | 9% below |
| Las Vegas | $23.47 | $30.73 | $58.40 | 2,460 | 10% below |
Heavy equipment operator wages in Nevada over time
Table
| Year | Nevada $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $19.26 | $37.22 | $15.31 | 5,090 |
| 2000 | $19.98 | $37.35 | $15.99 | 4,300 |
| 2001 | $20.97 | $38.12 | $16.42 | 5,060 |
| 2002 | $21.08 | $37.72 | $16.94 | 4,620 |
| 2003 | $20.59 | $36.03 | $16.84 | 3,660 |
| 2004 | $21.28 | $36.27 | $17.00 | 4,320 |
| 2005 | $20.70 | $34.12 | $17.23 | 4,800 |
| 2006 | $21.98 | $35.10 | $17.74 | 5,440 |
| 2007 | $22.98 | $35.68 | $18.33 | 5,400 |
| 2008 | $24.30 | $36.34 | $18.88 | 4,110 |
| 2009 | $25.02 | $37.55 | $19.12 | 3,250 |
| 2010 | $24.82 | $36.64 | $19.42 | 2,690 |
| 2011 | $26.93 | $38.54 | $19.96 | 2,710 |
| 2012 | $25.17 | $35.29 | $20.13 | 2,470 |
| 2013 | $25.91 | $35.81 | $20.45 | 2,090 |
| 2014 | $26.04 | $35.41 | $20.92 | 2,230 |
| 2015 | $26.24 | $35.64 | $21.44 | 2,470 |
| 2016 | $26.43 | $35.45 | $22.06 | 2,560 |
| 2017 | $26.13 | $34.32 | $22.61 | 2,970 |
| 2018 | $26.60 | $34.10 | $22.98 | 3,420 |
| 2019 | $25.56 | $32.19 | $23.55 | 4,060 |
| 2020 | $24.64 | $30.65 | $23.93 | 4,980 |
| 2021 | $28.61 | $33.99 | $23.25 | 4,200 |
| 2022 | $28.89 | $31.78 | $24.73 | 4,330 |
| 2023 | $32.71 | $34.56 | $27.00 | 6,040 |
| 2024 | $34.99 | $35.91 | $28.23 | 5,760 |
| 2025 | $34.33 | $34.33 | $28.78 | 5,410 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Nevada changed by -3.7% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Nevada
On federally funded construction in Nevada, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 17 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $79.63). The market median for the state is $34.33.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $64.52 | $36.69 | $101.21 | NV20260091 |
| Esmeralda | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $64.52 | $36.69 | $101.21 | NV20260085 |
| Lincoln | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $64.52 | $36.69 | $101.21 | NV20260080 |
| Nye | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $64.52 | $36.69 | $101.21 | NV20260082 |
| Churchill | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260077 |
| Douglas | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260078 |
| Elko | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260083 |
| Eureka | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260084 |
| Humboldt | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260079 |
| Lander | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260086 |
| Lyon | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260081 |
| Mineral | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260087 |
| Pershing | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260088 |
| Storey | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260092 |
| Washoe | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260093 |
| White Pine | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260089 |
| Carson City | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.78 | $34.85 | $79.63 | NV20260090 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Nevada prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Nevada?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storey County | 852 | $114,129 | $2,195 |
| Elko County | 910 | $93,528 | $1,799 |
| Carson City | 1,509 | $87,803 | $1,689 |
| Churchill County | 481 | $82,027 | $1,577 |
| Washoe County | 16,449 | $79,003 | $1,519 |
| Clark County | 58,383 | $77,825 | $1,497 |
| White Pine County | 120 | $77,470 | $1,490 |
| Humboldt County | 115 | $71,264 | $1,370 |
| Douglas County | 1,067 | $70,253 | $1,351 |
| Lyon County | 770 | $66,608 | $1,281 |
| Lincoln County | 46 | $64,369 | $1,238 |
| Nye County | 562 | $56,675 | $1,090 |
| Esmeralda County | — | — | — |
| Lander County | — | — | — |
| Mineral County | — | — | — |
| Pershing County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Nevada
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in Nevada?
The median heavy equipment operator in Nevada earned $34.33 an hour ($71,410 a year) in May 2025, 19% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $29.19–$43.29; the top 10% earn more than $53.46.
Where does Nevada rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
Nevada ranks 15th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $34.33 an hour, and 13th after adjusting for Nevada's cost of living (BEA price parity 100.0, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Nevada?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Nevada counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Nevada?
BLS counted 5,410 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Nevada in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.13; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nevada 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.