Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in New York

Median $38.94 an hour for 14,490 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$38.94/hrMedian hourly wageNew York, May data
$80,980/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$24.13 – $69.6710th to 90th percentilehourly range
14,490Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Heavy equipment operator pay in New York: the full range

Wage percentiles, New YorkMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrNew York: 10th $24.13 · 25th $29.11 · median $38.94 · 75th $54.29 · 90th $69.67New York$38.94$24.13$69.67United 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: New York vs United States, May 2025.

New York ranks 6th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $36.09). 14,490 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$24.13 – $29.11$50,190 – $60,540roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$29.11 – $54.29$60,540 – $112,920the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$54.29 – $69.67$112,920 – $144,920the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in New York

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrNew York City: $45.70New York City$45.70Albany: $39.68Albany$39.68Buffalo: $35.41Buffalo$35.41Poughkeepsie: $34.73Poughkeepsie$34.73Kingston: $33.83Kingston$33.83Elmira: $31.62Elmira$31.62Rochester: $31.60Rochester$31.60Syracuse: $30.68Syracuse$30.68Watertown: $29.97Watertown$29.97Utica: $29.94Utica$29.94Binghamton: $29.33Binghamton$29.33Glens Falls: $28.86Glens Falls$28.86
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in New York, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
New York City$27.25$45.70$40.59$74.0611,43017% above
Albany$24.53$39.68$39.84$62.001,0002% above
Buffalo$23.64$35.41$36.96$55.079509% below
Poughkeepsie$27.41$34.73$31.75$58.3959011% below
Kingston$25.01$33.83$33.59$53.6715013% below
Elmira$17.79$31.62$33.50$56.637019% below
Rochester$22.50$31.60$32.58$54.2091019% below
Syracuse$23.74$30.68$32.06$58.3070021% below
Watertown$26.43$29.97$34.17$36.5619023% below
Utica$22.57$29.94$32.30$57.6920023% below
Binghamton$23.19$29.33$31.57$54.0633025% below
Glens Falls$22.69$28.86$30.41$55.0217026% below
Ithaca$16.71$26.36$25.52$44.395032% 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 York over time

New York, 1999-2025New YorkUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$38.94New York$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, New York vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNew York $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.27$37.24$15.3112,870
2000$20.59$38.49$15.9913,770
2001$20.87$37.94$16.4213,870
2002$21.67$38.78$16.9414,020
2003$21.58$37.76$16.8412,860
2004$22.81$38.88$17.0012,600
2005$23.52$38.77$17.2313,090
2006$25.81$41.22$17.7414,230
2007$26.34$40.90$18.3314,640
2008$26.68$39.89$18.8814,730
2009$26.99$40.50$19.1214,370
2010$27.29$40.29$19.4213,920
2011$27.71$39.66$19.9613,980
2012$27.95$39.19$20.1313,460
2013$29.22$40.38$20.4513,400
2014$30.12$40.96$20.9212,990
2015$30.10$40.89$21.4412,750
2016$30.71$41.19$22.0611,940
2017$31.65$41.57$22.6112,520
2018$33.46$42.90$22.9813,160
2019$33.63$42.35$23.5513,960
2020$34.65$43.10$23.9312,960
2021$35.47$42.14$23.2514,290
2022$31.98$35.18$24.7313,250
2023$35.41$37.41$27.0014,850
2024$38.59$39.61$28.2314,700
2025$38.94$38.94$28.7814,490

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in New York changed by -4.8% over the last ten years of data and by -8.1% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in New York?

+3.8%Jobs since 201913,960 then, 14,490 in 2025
+13.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.5× the US share, 49th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in New York has changed by +12.6%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +3.8%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in New York vs United States, 1999 = 100New YorkUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160200020052010201520202025147United States113New York
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, New York vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNew York jobsNew York indexUS index
199912,870100100
200013,770107103
200113,870108109
200214,020109106
200312,860100106
200412,60098110
200513,090102117
200614,230111121
200714,640114124
200814,730114123
200914,370112114
201013,920108103
201113,980109103
201213,460105103
201313,400104105
201412,990101106
201512,75099110
201611,94093110
201712,52097113
201813,160102118
201913,960108125
202012,960101124
202114,290111125
202213,250103130
202314,850115139
202414,700114145
202514,490113147

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 York

-0.3%Projected growth in New York2024–2034, state agency
1,280Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
16,020Jobs in 202415,980 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

New York's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by -0.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 16,020 to 15,980, with about 1,280 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 14,490 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: New York 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 York

On federally funded construction in New York, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 44 of the 61 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $90.85 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $68.14). 1 of the 61 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Jefferson County at $51.60). The market median for the state is $38.94.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NYAlbany: $90.85 (union)Allegany: $68.14 (survey)Bronx: $131.27 (union)Broome: $90.85 (union)Cattaraugus: $68.14 (survey)Cayuga: $97.63 (union)Chautauqua: $68.14 (survey)Chemung: $76.11 (union)Chenango: $97.63 (union)Clinton: $68.14 (survey)Columbia: $97.63 (union)Cortland: $97.63 (union)Delaware: $97.63 (union)Dutchess: $107.46 (union)Erie: $79.63 (union)Essex: $68.14 (survey)Franklin: $68.14 (survey)Fulton: $68.14 (survey)Genesee: $68.14 (survey)Greene: $97.63 (union)Hamilton: $68.14 (survey)Herkimer: $87.35 (union)Jefferson: $51.60 (survey)Kings: $131.27 (union)Lewis: $68.14 (survey)Livingston: $76.11 (union)Madison: $79.96 (union)Monroe: $76.11 (union)Montgomery: $68.14 (survey)Nassau: $120.42 (union)New York: $131.27 (union)Niagara: $79.63 (union)Oneida: $77.84 (union)Onondaga: $79.96 (union)Ontario: $76.11 (union)Orange: $107.46 (union)Orleans: $79.63 (union)Oswego: $79.96 (union)Otsego: $97.63 (union)Putnam: $85.73 (union)Queens: $131.27 (union)Rensselaer: $90.85 (union)Richmond: $131.27 (union)Rockland: $99.22 (union)St. Lawrence: $68.14 (survey)Saratoga: $90.85 (union)Schenectady: $90.85 (union)Schoharie: $90.85 (union)Schuyler: $68.14 (survey)Seneca: $68.14 (survey)Steuben: $68.14 (survey)Suffolk: $120.42 (union)Sullivan: $97.63 (union)Tioga: $90.85 (union)Tompkins: $79.96 (union)Ulster: $107.46 (union)Warren: $90.85 (union)Washington: $90.85 (union)Wayne: n/aWestchester: $85.73 (union)Wyoming: $68.14 (survey)Yates: $77.54 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$68.14$79.63$90.85$97.63n/asurvey 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)Prevailing (survey)$0$50$100$150/hrBronx (New York City): market median $45.70, prevailing (union) $131.27, gap +$85.57Bronx (New York City)+$85.57Ulster (Kingston): market median $33.83, prevailing (union) $107.46, gap +$73.63Ulster (Kingston)+$73.63Dutchess (Poughkeepsie): market median $34.73, prevailing (union) $107.46, gap +$72.73Dutchess (Poughkeepsie)+$72.73Warren (Glens Falls): market median $28.86, prevailing (union) $90.85, gap +$61.99Warren (Glens Falls)+$61.99Broome (Binghamton): market median $29.33, prevailing (union) $90.85, gap +$61.52Broome (Binghamton)+$61.52Herkimer (Utica): market median $29.94, prevailing (union) $87.35, gap +$57.41Herkimer (Utica)+$57.41Tompkins (Ithaca): market median $26.36, prevailing (union) $79.96, gap +$53.60Tompkins (Ithaca)+$53.60Albany (Albany): market median $39.68, prevailing (union) $90.85, gap +$51.17Albany (Albany)+$51.17Madison (Syracuse): market median $30.68, prevailing (union) $79.96, gap +$49.28Madison (Syracuse)+$49.28Orleans (Rochester): market median $31.60, prevailing (union) $79.63, gap +$48.03Orleans (Rochester)+$48.03Chemung (Elmira): market median $31.62, prevailing (union) $76.11, gap +$44.49Chemung (Elmira)+$44.49Erie (Buffalo): market median $35.41, prevailing (union) $79.63, gap +$44.22Erie (Buffalo)+$44.22Jefferson (Watertown): market median $29.97, prevailing (survey) $51.60, gap +$21.63Jefferson (Watertown)+$21.63
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in New York.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BronxUnion ENGI0014-002 2025-07-01$92.32$38.95$131.27NY20260003
KingsUnion ENGI0014-002 2025-07-01$92.32$38.95$131.27NY20260003
New YorkUnion ENGI0014-002 2025-07-01$92.32$38.95$131.27NY20260003
QueensUnion ENGI0014-002 2025-07-01$92.32$38.95$131.27NY20260003
RichmondUnion ENGI0014-002 2025-07-01$92.32$38.95$131.27NY20260003
NassauUnion ENGI0138-001 2025-06-01$80.43$39.99$120.42NY20260012
SuffolkUnion ENGI0138-001 2025-06-01$80.43$39.99$120.42NY20260012
DutchessUnion ENGI0825-008 2025-07-01$69.96$37.50$107.46NY20260007
OrangeUnion ENGI0825-008 2025-07-01$69.96$37.50$107.46NY20260007
UlsterUnion ENGI0825-008 2025-07-01$69.96$37.50$107.46NY20260007
RocklandUnion ENGI0825-012 2025-07-01$61.72$37.50$99.22NY20260020
CayugaUnion ENGI0825-001 2025-07-01$60.13$37.50$97.63NY20260101
ChenangoUnion ENGI0825-001 2025-07-01$60.13$37.50$97.63NY20260103
ColumbiaUnion ENGI0825-001 2025-07-01$60.13$37.50$97.63NY20260105
CortlandUnion ENGI0825-001 2025-07-01$60.13$37.50$97.63NY20260106

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New York prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in New York?

396.1kConstruction jobsNew York, 2026-09
-0.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k200k300k400k500k19901995200020052010201520202025396kSep 2026
Construction employment in New York (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 59 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 230,604 in 2015 to 242,213 in 2025, +5.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
New York County1,02517,505$112,347$2,161
Ontario County1682,596$110,692$2,129
Albany County4565,751$97,044$1,866
Queens County2,92131,155$96,866$1,863
Rensselaer County2301,684$93,618$1,800
Nassau County2,71521,871$93,401$1,796
Bronx County7726,727$91,769$1,765
Erie County1,30313,400$88,790$1,707
Westchester County2,26017,930$88,549$1,703
Onondaga County6166,868$88,060$1,693
Cayuga County121856$87,850$1,689
Herkimer County87531$87,293$1,679

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in New York

More on New York

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in New York?

The median heavy equipment operator in New York earned $38.94 an hour ($80,980 a year) in May 2025, 35% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $29.11–$54.29; the top 10% earn more than $69.67.

Where does New York rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

New York ranks 6th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $38.94 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for New York's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.9, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in New York?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 44 counties, with a typical package of $90.85 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in New York?

BLS counted 14,490 heavy equipment operators in New York in May 2025, 1.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.49; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in New York?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in New York went from 12,750 in 2015 to 14,490 in 2025, +13.6%, and +3.8% since 2019. New York's labor market agency projects -0.3% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 16,020 to 15,980 jobs.

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

New York projects about 1,280 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 York 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 York labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.