Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in North Carolina

Median $23.71 an hour for 16,580 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$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 2026-09-28

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 operating engineers and other construction 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 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.78 – $21.97$39,050 – $45,700roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$21.97 – $27.82$45,700 – $57,870the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$27.82 – $30.98$57,870 – $64,450the 75th–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 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$18.99$25.03$35.442,1506% above
Burlington$19.26$24.79$29.802005% above
Raleigh$19.49$24.57$31.713,0804% above
Charlotte$20.18$24.46$33.854,4403% above
Durham$19.08$24.44$34.254803% above
Pinehurst$18.66$24.14$29.07902% above
Greensboro$18.78$23.71$30.191,080about the same as
Rocky Mount$17.99$23.38$28.001701% below
Fayetteville$19.18$23.26$32.014402% below
Asheville$18.95$23.06$29.535103% below
Greenville$18.42$23.05$31.492103% below
Wilmington$17.93$23.03$29.837903% below
Winston-Salem$18.28$22.88$29.217704% below
Hickory$17.43$22.76$34.093704% below
Goldsboro$18.54$22.68$28.472204% below
Jacksonville$17.80$22.56$30.391805% below

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 operating engineers and other construction 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.

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 2026-09-28. 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?

299.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-08
+6.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025299kAug 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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Northampton County143$90,853$1,747
Clay County123$88,869$1,709
Mecklenburg County26,786$81,939$1,576
Wake County26,700$78,996$1,519
Lenoir County1,318$78,808$1,516
Randolph County2,578$76,487$1,471
Guilford County9,330$76,294$1,467
Union County6,038$75,738$1,456
Halifax County387$74,980$1,442
Rowan County2,616$74,689$1,436
Polk County190$73,921$1,422
Graham County288$73,214$1,408

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in 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 operating engineers and other construction 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).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, North Carolina 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.