Heavy equipment operator salary in New Hampshire
Median $29.91 an hour for 1,330 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 New Hampshire: the full range
New Hampshire ranks 21st of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 33rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.70). 1,330 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $23.93 – $27.55 | $49,770 – $57,310 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $27.55 – $35.51 | $57,310 – $73,860 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $35.51 – $42.18 | $73,860 – $87,730 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in New Hampshire
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $25.96 | $36.99 | $60.51 | 6,370 | 24% above |
| Manchester | $23.67 | $29.02 | $42.64 | 210 | 3% below |
Heavy equipment operator wages in New Hampshire over time
Table
| Year | New Hampshire $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.28 | $29.53 | $15.31 | 1,100 |
| 2000 | $15.87 | $29.67 | $15.99 | 1,160 |
| 2001 | $16.12 | $29.30 | $16.42 | 1,330 |
| 2002 | $16.39 | $29.33 | $16.94 | 1,440 |
| 2003 | $16.33 | $28.57 | $16.84 | 1,440 |
| 2004 | $17.56 | $29.93 | $17.00 | 1,270 |
| 2005 | $18.25 | $30.08 | $17.23 | 1,180 |
| 2006 | $18.59 | $29.69 | $17.74 | 1,320 |
| 2007 | $19.29 | $29.95 | $18.33 | 1,200 |
| 2008 | $18.85 | $28.19 | $18.88 | 1,330 |
| 2009 | $19.48 | $29.23 | $19.12 | 1,090 |
| 2010 | $20.38 | $30.09 | $19.42 | 1,000 |
| 2011 | $20.92 | $29.94 | $19.96 | 1,010 |
| 2012 | $21.05 | $29.52 | $20.13 | 950 |
| 2013 | $20.82 | $28.77 | $20.45 | 940 |
| 2014 | $20.73 | $28.19 | $20.92 | 940 |
| 2015 | $20.82 | $28.28 | $21.44 | 870 |
| 2016 | $22.35 | $29.98 | $22.06 | 860 |
| 2017 | $22.86 | $30.02 | $22.61 | 820 |
| 2018 | $23.68 | $30.36 | $22.98 | 890 |
| 2019 | $24.44 | $30.78 | $23.55 | 1,200 |
| 2020 | $24.04 | $29.90 | $23.93 | 1,350 |
| 2021 | $23.27 | $27.65 | $23.25 | 1,420 |
| 2022 | $26.19 | $28.81 | $24.73 | 1,490 |
| 2023 | $30.00 | $31.70 | $27.00 | 1,820 |
| 2024 | $30.18 | $30.97 | $28.23 | 1,530 |
| 2025 | $29.91 | $29.91 | $28.78 | 1,330 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in New Hampshire changed by +5.8% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in New Hampshire
On federally funded construction in New Hampshire, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 10 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $24.69). 10 of the 10 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Belknap County at $24.69). The market median for the state is $29.91.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough | Survey SUNH2015-007 2017-06-16 | $24.08 | $4.75 | $28.83 | NH20260021 |
| Rockingham | Survey SUNH2015-008 2017-06-16 | $24.02 | $4.25 | $28.27 | NH20260022 |
| Strafford | Survey SUNH2015-009 2017-06-16 | $24.02 | $4.25 | $28.27 | NH20260023 |
| Belknap | Survey SUNH2015-001 2017-06-16 | $21.52 | $3.17 | $24.69 | NH20260015 |
| Cheshire | Survey SUNH2015-006 2017-06-16 | $21.52 | $3.17 | $24.69 | NH20260020 |
| Merrimack | Survey SUNH2015-005 2017-06-16 | $21.52 | $3.17 | $24.69 | NH20260019 |
| Sullivan | Survey SUNH2015-006 2017-06-16 | $21.52 | $3.17 | $24.69 | NH20260020 |
| Carroll | Survey SUNH2015-002 2017-06-16 | $21.00 | $2.34 | $23.34 | NH20260016 |
| Coos | Survey SUNH2015-003 2017-06-16 | $21.00 | $2.34 | $23.34 | NH20260017 |
| Grafton | Survey SUNH2015-004 2017-06-16 | $21.00 | $2.34 | $23.34 | NH20260018 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Hampshire prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Hampshire?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | 6,935 | $86,903 | $1,671 |
| Coos County | 320 | $86,825 | $1,670 |
| Rockingham County | 5,588 | $81,699 | $1,571 |
| Merrimack County | 2,352 | $80,560 | $1,549 |
| Belknap County | 941 | $79,698 | $1,533 |
| Strafford County | 1,356 | $73,271 | $1,409 |
| Cheshire County | 1,391 | $72,846 | $1,401 |
| Grafton County | 1,040 | $71,293 | $1,371 |
| Carroll County | 632 | $65,169 | $1,253 |
| Sullivan County | 411 | $63,458 | $1,220 |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Hampshire
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in New Hampshire?
The median heavy equipment operator in New Hampshire earned $29.91 an hour ($62,200 a year) in May 2025, 4% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $27.55–$35.51; the top 10% earn more than $42.18.
Where does New Hampshire rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
New Hampshire ranks 21st of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $29.91 an hour, and 33rd after adjusting for New Hampshire's cost of living (BEA price parity 104.2, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in New Hampshire?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most New Hampshire counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in New Hampshire?
BLS counted 1,330 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in New Hampshire in May 2025, 1.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.63; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Hampshire 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.