Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in North Carolina

Median $23.71 an hour for 16,580 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.71/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$49,310/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.78 – $30.9810th to 90th percentilehourly range
16,580Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $18.78 · 25th $21.97 · median $23.71 · 75th $27.82 · 90th $30.98North Carolina$23.71$18.78$30.98United 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: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 45th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 46th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.14). 16,580 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.78 – $21.97$39,050 – $45,700roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.97 – $27.82$45,700 – $57,870the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$27.82 – $30.98$57,870 – $64,450the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrVirginia Beach: $25.03Virginia Beach$25.03Burlington: $24.79Burlington$24.79Raleigh: $24.57Raleigh$24.57Charlotte: $24.46Charlotte$24.46Durham: $24.44Durham$24.44Pinehurst: $24.14Pinehurst$24.14Greensboro: $23.71Greensboro$23.71Rocky Mount: $23.38Rocky Mount$23.38Fayetteville: $23.26Fayetteville$23.26Asheville: $23.06Asheville$23.06Greenville: $23.05Greenville$23.05Wilmington: $23.03Wilmington$23.03
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$18.99$25.03$25.57$35.442,1506% above
Burlington$19.26$24.79$26.60$29.802005% above
Raleigh$19.49$24.57$25.02$31.713,0804% above
Charlotte$20.18$24.46$25.14$33.854,4403% above
Durham$19.08$24.44$25.04$34.254803% above
Pinehurst$18.66$24.14$27.34$29.07902% above
Greensboro$18.78$23.71$25.52$30.191,080about the same as
Rocky Mount$17.99$23.38$26.57$28.001701% below
Fayetteville$19.18$23.26$25.28$32.014402% below
Asheville$18.95$23.06$23.90$29.535103% below
Greenville$18.42$23.05$26.07$31.492103% below
Wilmington$17.93$23.03$23.89$29.837903% below
Winston-Salem$18.28$22.88$24.87$29.217704% below
Hickory$17.43$22.76$25.72$34.093704% below
Goldsboro$18.54$22.68$25.63$28.472204% below
Jacksonville$17.80$22.56$24.50$30.391805% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 1999-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$23.71North Carolina
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, North Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$11.82$22.84$15.319,870
2000$12.44$23.26$15.9911,560
2001$13.05$23.72$16.4211,770
2002$13.30$23.80$16.9410,550
2003$13.31$23.29$16.8410,050
2004$13.60$23.18$17.0010,720
2005$14.31$23.59$17.2312,920
2006$14.29$22.82$17.7412,930
2007$14.76$22.92$18.3313,650
2008$15.03$22.47$18.8812,390
2009$15.28$22.93$19.129,820
2010$15.65$23.11$19.428,720
2011$15.88$22.73$19.968,810
2012$16.00$22.44$20.139,190
2013$16.18$22.36$20.458,660
2014$16.59$22.56$20.928,610
2015$16.88$22.93$21.449,510
2016$17.25$23.14$22.0611,020
2017$17.60$23.12$22.6111,750
2018$18.24$23.39$22.9812,720
2019$19.01$23.94$23.5513,640
2020$19.39$24.12$23.9314,290
2021$18.91$22.47$23.2513,610
2022$21.82$24.00$24.7314,910
2023$22.82$24.11$27.0015,510
2024$23.51$24.13$28.2315,890
2025$23.71$23.71$28.7816,580

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in North Carolina changed by +3.4% over the last ten years of data and by -1.0% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in North Carolina?

+21.6%Jobs since 201913,640 then, 16,580 in 2025
+74.3%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 29th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in North Carolina has changed by +68.0%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +21.6%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in North Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages75100125150175200200020052010201520202025168North Carolina147United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, North Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNorth Carolina jobsNorth Carolina indexUS index
19999,870100100
200011,560117103
200111,770119109
200210,550107106
200310,050102106
200410,720109110
200512,920131117
200612,930131121
200713,650138124
200812,390126123
20099,820100114
20108,72088103
20118,81089103
20129,19093103
20138,66088105
20148,61087106
20159,51096110
201611,020112110
201711,750119113
201812,720129118
201913,640138125
202014,290145124
202113,610138125
202214,910151130
202315,510157139
202415,890161145
202516,580168147

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 North Carolina

+4.9%Projected growth in North Carolina2024–2034, state agency
1,440Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
16,450Jobs in 202417,250 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +4.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 16,450 to 17,250, with about 1,440 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 16,580 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: North Carolina 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 North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 100 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $19.05). 54 of the 100 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $20.01). The market median for the state is $23.71.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: $19.45 (survey)Alexander: $16.58 (survey)Alleghany: $20.01 (survey)Anson: $18.48 (survey)Ashe: $20.01 (survey)Avery: $20.01 (survey)Beaufort: $17.04 (survey)Bertie: $17.04 (survey)Bladen: $18.89 (survey)Brunswick: $23.89 (survey)Buncombe: $16.58 (survey)Burke: $16.58 (survey)Cabarrus: $16.58 (survey)Caldwell: $16.58 (survey)Camden: $17.04 (survey)Carteret: $17.04 (survey)Caswell: $15.96 (survey)Catawba: $16.58 (survey)Chatham: $19.45 (survey)Cherokee: $20.01 (survey)Chowan: $17.04 (survey)Clay: $20.01 (survey)Cleveland: $18.89 (survey)Columbus: $18.89 (survey)Craven: $23.89 (survey)Cumberland: $23.89 (survey)Currituck: $23.89 (survey)Dare: $17.04 (survey)Davidson: $19.22 (survey)Davie: $19.22 (survey)Duplin: $18.89 (survey)Durham: $19.45 (survey)Edgecombe: $19.45 (survey)Forsyth: $19.22 (survey)Franklin: $25.00 (survey)Gaston: $16.58 (survey)Gates: $23.89 (survey)Graham: $20.01 (survey)Granville: $15.96 (survey)Greene: $20.39 (survey)Guilford: $19.22 (survey)Halifax: $15.96 (survey)Harnett: $18.89 (survey)Haywood: $16.58 (survey)Henderson: $16.58 (survey)Hertford: $17.04 (survey)Hoke: $23.89 (survey)Hyde: $17.04 (survey)Iredell: $16.58 (survey)Jackson: $20.01 (survey)Johnston: $25.00 (survey)Jones: $23.89 (survey)Lee: $18.89 (survey)Lenoir: $18.89 (survey)Lincoln: $16.58 (survey)McDowell: $20.01 (survey)Macon: $20.01 (survey)Madison: $16.58 (survey)Martin: $17.04 (survey)Mecklenburg: $16.58 (survey)Mitchell: $20.01 (survey)Montgomery: $18.89 (survey)Moore: $18.89 (survey)Nash: $19.45 (survey)New Hanover: $23.89 (survey)Northampton: $15.96 (survey)Onslow: $23.89 (survey)Orange: $19.45 (survey)Pamlico: $23.89 (survey)Pasquotank: $17.04 (survey)Pender: $23.89 (survey)Perquimans: $17.04 (survey)Person: $19.45 (survey)Pitt: $19.45 (survey)Polk: $20.01 (survey)Randolph: $19.22 (survey)Richmond: $18.89 (survey)Robeson: $18.89 (survey)Rockingham: $19.22 (survey)Rowan: $16.58 (survey)Rutherford: $20.01 (survey)Sampson: $18.89 (survey)Scotland: $18.89 (survey)Stanly: $18.89 (survey)Stokes: $19.22 (survey)Surry: $20.01 (survey)Swain: $20.01 (survey)Transylvania: $20.01 (survey)Tyrrell: $17.04 (survey)Union: $16.58 (survey)Vance: $15.96 (survey)Wake: $25.00 (survey)Warren: $15.96 (survey)Washington: $17.04 (survey)Watauga: $20.01 (survey)Wayne: $25.00 (survey)Wilkes: $20.01 (survey)Wilson: $18.89 (survey)Yadkin: $19.22 (survey)Yancey: $20.01 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.58$18.89$19.45$20.01survey 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)$15$17.50$20$22.50$25$27.50/hrWayne (Goldsboro): market median $22.68, prevailing (survey) $25.00, gap +$2.32Wayne (Goldsboro)+$2.32Onslow (Jacksonville): market median $22.56, prevailing (survey) $23.89, gap +$1.33Onslow (Jacksonville)+$1.33Brunswick (Wilmington): market median $23.03, prevailing (survey) $23.89, gap +$0.86Brunswick (Wilmington)+$0.86Cumberland (Fayetteville): market median $23.26, prevailing (survey) $23.89, gap +$0.63Cumberland (Fayetteville)+$0.63Franklin (Raleigh): market median $24.57, prevailing (survey) $25.00, gap +$0.43Franklin (Raleigh)+$0.43Currituck (Virginia Beach): market median $25.03, prevailing (survey) $23.89, gap −$1.14Currituck (Virginia Beach)−$1.14Pitt (Greenville): market median $23.05, prevailing (survey) $19.45, gap −$3.60Pitt (Greenville)−$3.60Davidson (Winston-Salem): market median $22.88, prevailing (survey) $19.22, gap −$3.66Davidson (Winston-Salem)−$3.66Edgecombe (Rocky Mount): market median $23.38, prevailing (survey) $19.45, gap −$3.93Edgecombe (Rocky Mount)−$3.93Guilford (Greensboro): market median $23.71, prevailing (survey) $19.22, gap −$4.49Guilford (Greensboro)−$4.49Chatham (Durham): market median $24.44, prevailing (survey) $19.45, gap −$4.99Chatham (Durham)−$4.99Moore (Pinehurst): market median $24.14, prevailing (survey) $18.89, gap −$5.25Moore (Pinehurst)−$5.25Alamance (Burlington): market median $24.79, prevailing (survey) $19.45, gap −$5.34Alamance (Burlington)−$5.34Anson (Charlotte): market median $24.46, prevailing (survey) $18.48, gap −$5.98Anson (Charlotte)−$5.98Alexander (Hickory): market median $22.76, prevailing (survey) $16.58, gap −$6.18Alexander (Hickory)−$6.18Buncombe (Asheville): market median $23.06, prevailing (survey) $16.58, gap −$6.48Buncombe (Asheville)−$6.48
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
FranklinSurvey SUNC2018-023 2023-08-08$25.00$0.00$25.00NC20260126
JohnstonSurvey SUNC2018-023 2023-08-08$25.00$0.00$25.00NC20260126
WakeSurvey SUNC2018-011 2023-08-08$25.00$0.00$25.00NC20260011
WayneSurvey SUNC2018-012 2023-08-08$25.00$0.00$25.00NC20260012
BrunswickSurvey SUNC2018-015 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260015
CravenSurvey SUNC2018-018 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260018
CumberlandSurvey SUNC2018-019 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260122
CurrituckSurvey SUNC2018-020 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260123
GatesSurvey SUNC2018-020 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260123
HokeSurvey SUNC2018-019 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260122
JonesSurvey SUNC2018-018 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260018
New HanoverSurvey SUNC2018-009 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260009
OnslowSurvey SUNC2018-010 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260010
PamlicoSurvey SUNC2018-018 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260018
PenderSurvey SUNC2018-015 2023-08-08$21.00$2.89$23.89NC20260015

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

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

296.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (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 91 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 116,615 in 2015 to 167,614 in 2025, +43.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Northampton County19143$90,853$1,747
Clay County30123$88,869$1,709
Mecklenburg County2,17826,786$81,939$1,576
Wake County2,36626,700$78,996$1,519
Lenoir County981,318$78,808$1,516
Randolph County2912,578$76,487$1,471
Guilford County8539,330$76,294$1,467
Union County7426,038$75,738$1,456
Halifax County53387$74,980$1,442
Rowan County2992,616$74,689$1,436
Polk County48190$73,921$1,422
Graham County24288$73,214$1,408

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

More on North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in North Carolina?

The median heavy equipment operator in North Carolina earned $23.71 an hour ($49,310 a year) in May 2025, 18% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $21.97–$27.82; the top 10% earn more than $30.98.

Where does North Carolina rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

North Carolina ranks 45th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $23.71 an hour, and 46th after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in North Carolina?

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

How many heavy equipment operators work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 16,580 heavy equipment operators in North Carolina in May 2025, 3.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.09; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in North Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in North Carolina went from 9,510 in 2015 to 16,580 in 2025, +74.3%, and +21.6% since 2019. North Carolina's labor market agency projects +4.9% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 16,450 to 17,250 jobs.

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

North Carolina projects about 1,440 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, North Carolina 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: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.