Heavy equipment operator salary in New Jersey
Median $43.11 an hour for 5,980 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Heavy equipment operator pay in New Jersey: the full range
New Jersey ranks 3rd of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 4th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $39.62). 5,980 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.6× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $24.41 – $30.82 | $50,760 – $64,100 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $30.82 – $60.74 | $64,100 – $126,330 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $60.74 – $64.10 | $126,330 – $133,330 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in New Jersey
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $27.25 | $45.70 | $40.59 | $74.06 | 11,430 | 6% above |
| Vineland | $22.67 | $36.89 | $38.43 | $59.58 | 180 | 14% below |
| Atlantic City | $24.02 | $36.65 | $37.06 | $61.77 | 320 | 15% below |
| Trenton | $24.79 | $33.56 | $32.52 | $60.10 | 270 | 22% below |
| Philadelphia | $23.45 | $32.12 | $31.31 | $54.47 | 5,620 | 25% below |
| Allentown | $22.70 | $30.31 | $30.31 | $45.06 | 920 | 30% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Heavy equipment operator wages in New Jersey over time
Table
| Year | New Jersey $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $19.93 | $38.51 | $15.31 | 5,670 |
| 2000 | $21.14 | $39.52 | $15.99 | 7,080 |
| 2001 | $22.44 | $40.79 | $16.42 | 7,310 |
| 2002 | $23.27 | $41.64 | $16.94 | 6,590 |
| 2003 | $23.22 | $40.63 | $16.84 | 6,520 |
| 2004 | $24.54 | $41.82 | $17.00 | 5,670 |
| 2005 | $25.23 | $41.59 | $17.23 | 6,250 |
| 2006 | $26.68 | $42.61 | $17.74 | 6,610 |
| 2007 | $27.09 | $42.06 | $18.33 | 6,000 |
| 2008 | $27.97 | $41.82 | $18.88 | 5,700 |
| 2009 | $27.68 | $41.54 | $19.12 | 5,120 |
| 2010 | $28.38 | $41.90 | $19.42 | 4,850 |
| 2011 | $29.83 | $42.69 | $19.96 | 4,590 |
| 2012 | $29.22 | $40.97 | $20.13 | 4,520 |
| 2013 | $30.41 | $42.03 | $20.45 | 4,620 |
| 2014 | $30.74 | $41.80 | $20.92 | 4,940 |
| 2015 | $31.28 | $42.49 | $21.44 | 5,100 |
| 2016 | $31.70 | $42.52 | $22.06 | 5,090 |
| 2017 | $32.49 | $42.67 | $22.61 | 5,550 |
| 2018 | $34.45 | $44.17 | $22.98 | 5,340 |
| 2019 | $36.02 | $45.36 | $23.55 | 5,130 |
| 2020 | $38.48 | $47.87 | $23.93 | 4,850 |
| 2021 | $37.73 | $44.83 | $23.25 | 4,580 |
| 2022 | $37.40 | $41.14 | $24.73 | 6,050 |
| 2023 | $39.22 | $41.44 | $27.00 | 6,960 |
| 2024 | $40.47 | $41.53 | $28.23 | 6,450 |
| 2025 | $43.11 | $43.11 | $28.78 | 5,980 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in New Jersey changed by +1.5% over the last ten years of data and by -5.0% since 2019.
Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in New Jersey?
Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in New Jersey has changed by +5.5%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +16.6%.
Table
| Year | New Jersey jobs | New Jersey index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,670 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 7,080 | 125 | 103 |
| 2001 | 7,310 | 129 | 109 |
| 2002 | 6,590 | 116 | 106 |
| 2003 | 6,520 | 115 | 106 |
| 2004 | 5,670 | 100 | 110 |
| 2005 | 6,250 | 110 | 117 |
| 2006 | 6,610 | 117 | 121 |
| 2007 | 6,000 | 106 | 124 |
| 2008 | 5,700 | 100 | 123 |
| 2009 | 5,120 | 90 | 114 |
| 2010 | 4,850 | 86 | 103 |
| 2011 | 4,590 | 81 | 103 |
| 2012 | 4,520 | 80 | 103 |
| 2013 | 4,620 | 82 | 105 |
| 2014 | 4,940 | 87 | 106 |
| 2015 | 5,100 | 90 | 110 |
| 2016 | 5,090 | 90 | 110 |
| 2017 | 5,550 | 98 | 113 |
| 2018 | 5,340 | 94 | 118 |
| 2019 | 5,130 | 90 | 125 |
| 2020 | 4,850 | 86 | 124 |
| 2021 | 4,580 | 81 | 125 |
| 2022 | 6,050 | 107 | 130 |
| 2023 | 6,960 | 123 | 139 |
| 2024 | 6,450 | 114 | 145 |
| 2025 | 5,980 | 106 | 147 |
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 New Jersey
New Jersey's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +4.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,660 to 6,970, with about 580 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,980 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: New Jersey 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 New Jersey
On federally funded construction in New Jersey, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 21 of the 21 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $97.63 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $43.11.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Union ENGI0825-017 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260025 |
| Bergen | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260026 |
| Burlington | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260027 |
| Camden | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260028 |
| Cape May | Union ENGI0825-017 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260029 |
| Cumberland | Union ENGI0825-017 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260030 |
| Essex | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260031 |
| Gloucester | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260032 |
| Hudson | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260033 |
| Hunterdon | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260034 |
| Mercer | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260035 |
| Middlesex | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260036 |
| Monmouth | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260037 |
| Morris | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260038 |
| Ocean | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260039 |
| Passaic | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260040 |
| Salem | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260041 |
| Somerset | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260042 |
| Sussex | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260043 |
| Union | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260044 |
| Warren | Union ENGI0825-020 2025-07-01 | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | NJ20260045 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Jersey prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Jersey?
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 21 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 89,656 in 2015 to 102,779 in 2025, +14.6%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 887 | 9,199 | $97,416 | $1,873 |
| Hudson County | 390 | 3,007 | $95,564 | $1,838 |
| Mercer County | 360 | 3,543 | $94,905 | $1,825 |
| Morris County | 932 | 8,730 | $91,378 | $1,757 |
| Union County | 806 | 6,308 | $91,096 | $1,752 |
| Gloucester County | 445 | 4,374 | $90,128 | $1,733 |
| Hunterdon County | 270 | 1,945 | $90,014 | $1,731 |
| Essex County | 762 | 6,092 | $89,479 | $1,721 |
| Camden County | 634 | 6,357 | $89,390 | $1,719 |
| Somerset County | 510 | 4,438 | $88,130 | $1,695 |
| Burlington County | 547 | 4,355 | $86,431 | $1,662 |
| Passaic County | 776 | 5,178 | $85,739 | $1,649 |
| Bergen County | 1,495 | 10,349 | $85,664 | $1,647 |
| Monmouth County | 1,159 | 11,076 | $85,517 | $1,645 |
| Cumberland County | 188 | 2,266 | $83,102 | $1,598 |
| Sussex County | 293 | 1,492 | $79,240 | $1,524 |
| Salem County | 79 | 878 | $76,104 | $1,464 |
| Warren County | 188 | 823 | $75,370 | $1,449 |
| Atlantic County | 437 | 3,513 | $74,034 | $1,424 |
| Ocean County | 1,160 | 7,254 | $70,401 | $1,354 |
| Cape May County | 285 | 1,602 | $59,055 | $1,136 |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Jersey
More on New Jersey
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in New Jersey?
The median heavy equipment operator in New Jersey earned $43.11 an hour ($89,660 a year) in May 2025, 50% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $30.82–$60.74; the top 10% earn more than $64.10.
Where does New Jersey rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
New Jersey ranks 3rd of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $43.11 an hour, and 4th after adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (BEA price parity 108.8, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in New Jersey?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 21 counties, with a typical package of $97.63 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many heavy equipment operators work in New Jersey?
BLS counted 5,980 heavy equipment operators in New Jersey in May 2025, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.45; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is heavy equipment operator work growing in New Jersey?
The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in New Jersey went from 5,100 in 2015 to 5,980 in 2025, +17.3%, and +16.6% since 2019. New Jersey's labor market agency projects +4.6% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 6,660 to 6,970 jobs.
How many heavy equipment operator openings a year are there in New Jersey?
New Jersey projects about 580 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, New Jersey 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: New Jersey labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.