Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Ohio

Median $31.22 an hour for 16,920 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$31.22/hrMedian hourly wageOhio, May data
$64,940/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.52 – $47.1710th to 90th percentilehourly range
16,920Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Heavy equipment operator pay in Ohio: the full range

Wage percentiles, OhioMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrOhio: 10th $22.52 · 25th $26.17 · median $31.22 · 75th $44.68 · 90th $47.17Ohio$31.22$22.52$47.17United 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: Ohio vs United States, May 2025.

Ohio ranks 16th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 15th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.64). 16,920 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$22.52 – $26.17$46,850 – $54,430roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$26.17 – $44.68$54,430 – $92,930the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$44.68 – $47.17$92,930 – $98,100the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Ohio

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrColumbus: $37.96Columbus$37.96Cleveland: $34.49Cleveland$34.49Cincinnati: $32.19Cincinnati$32.19Mansfield: $31.78Mansfield$31.78Toledo: $30.95Toledo$30.95Dayton: $30.79Dayton$30.79Akron: $30.73Akron$30.73Sandusky: $29.03Sandusky$29.03Canton: $28.85Canton$28.85Youngstown: $28.47Youngstown$28.47Lima: $28.30Lima$28.30Wheeling: $28.01Wheeling$28.01
Median hourly wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators by metro area in Ohio, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Columbus$24.33$37.96$47.793,29022% above
Cleveland$23.08$34.49$47.962,66010% above
Cincinnati$22.70$32.19$47.843,1203% above
Mansfield$21.97$31.78$44.481902% above
Toledo$22.09$30.95$46.927801% below
Dayton$22.73$30.79$47.007101% below
Akron$22.45$30.73$47.368302% below
Sandusky$22.55$29.03$45.462407% below
Canton$20.13$28.85$44.435308% below
Youngstown$21.74$28.47$46.714209% below
Lima$21.31$28.30$44.011309% below
Wheeling$18.76$28.01$44.4350010% below
Huntington$18.16$27.56$45.141,04012% below
Springfield$20.29$27.51$44.6410012% below
Weirton$18.76$24.66$45.1331021% below

Heavy equipment operator wages in Ohio over time

Ohio, 1999-2025OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$31.22Ohio$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, Ohio vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearOhio $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.14$35.05$15.3114,850
2000$18.90$35.34$15.9913,780
2001$19.09$34.70$16.4213,420
2002$20.01$35.81$16.9412,520
2003$20.09$35.15$16.8411,530
2004$19.68$33.54$17.0012,090
2005$20.65$34.04$17.2312,450
2006$21.41$34.19$17.7412,050
2007$22.49$34.92$18.3311,540
2008$23.09$34.53$18.8811,310
2009$23.93$35.91$19.1210,440
2010$21.93$32.38$19.4211,300
2011$21.65$30.99$19.9611,890
2012$21.36$29.95$20.1312,830
2013$21.40$29.57$20.4513,190
2014$22.82$31.03$20.9214,400
2015$23.49$31.91$21.4415,160
2016$24.47$32.82$22.0615,310
2017$26.15$34.35$22.6115,760
2018$25.51$32.71$22.9815,500
2019$24.79$31.22$23.5515,440
2020$25.59$31.83$23.9315,520
2021$28.50$33.86$23.2513,520
2022$28.46$31.31$24.7313,580
2023$29.04$30.68$27.0014,910
2024$30.01$30.80$28.2316,510
2025$31.22$31.22$28.7816,920

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Ohio changed by -2.2% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Ohio

On federally funded construction in Ohio, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 28 of the 88 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $60.55 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $39.87). 58 of the 88 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Adams County at $39.87). The market median for the state is $31.22.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, OHAdams: $39.87 (survey)Allen: $38.02 (survey)Ashland: $43.16 (survey)Ashtabula: $43.16 (survey)Athens: $39.87 (survey)Auglaize: $22.90 (survey)Belmont: $60.55 (union)Brown: $60.55 (union)Butler: $51.68 (survey)Carroll: $60.55 (union)Champaign: $32.35 (survey)Clark: $41.05 (survey)Clermont: $60.55 (union)Clinton: $39.87 (survey)Columbiana: $43.16 (survey)Coshocton: $60.55 (union)Crawford: $43.16 (survey)Cuyahoga: $63.12 (union)Darke: $32.35 (survey)Defiance: $32.35 (survey)Delaware: $37.06 (survey)Erie: $41.15 (survey)Fairfield: $37.06 (survey)Fayette: $39.87 (survey)Franklin: $60.55 (union)Fulton: $40.29 (survey)Gallia: $39.87 (survey)Geauga: $41.15 (survey)Greene: $49.60 (survey)Guernsey: $60.55 (union)Hamilton: $60.55 (union)Hancock: $32.35 (survey)Hardin: $32.35 (survey)Harrison: $60.55 (union)Henry: $32.35 (survey)Highland: $39.87 (survey)Hocking: $39.87 (survey)Holmes: $43.16 (survey)Huron: $43.16 (survey)Jackson: $39.87 (survey)Jefferson: $60.55 (union)Knox: $43.16 (survey)Lake: $41.15 (survey)Lawrence: $60.55 (union)Licking: $37.06 (survey)Logan: $32.35 (survey)Lorain: $41.15 (survey)Lucas: $61.30 (union)Madison: $37.06 (survey)Mahoning: $60.93 (union)Marion: $43.16 (survey)Medina: $29.95 (survey)Meigs: $39.87 (survey)Mercer: $32.35 (survey)Miami: $41.05 (survey)Monroe: $60.55 (union)Montgomery: $39.49 (survey)Morgan: $60.55 (union)Morrow: $37.06 (survey)Muskingum: $60.55 (union)Noble: $60.55 (union)Ottawa: $40.12 (survey)Paulding: $32.35 (survey)Perry: $60.55 (union)Pickaway: $37.06 (survey)Pike: $39.87 (survey)Portage: $62.04 (union)Preble: $41.05 (survey)Putnam: $32.88 (survey)Richland: $37.06 (survey)Ross: $39.87 (survey)Sandusky: $43.16 (survey)Scioto: $40.51 (survey)Seneca: $42.24 (survey)Shelby: $32.35 (survey)Stark: $60.55 (union)Summit: $62.04 (union)Trumbull: $60.93 (union)Tuscarawas: $60.55 (union)Union: $37.06 (survey)Van Wert: $21.42 (survey)Vinton: $39.87 (survey)Warren: $60.55 (union)Washington: $60.55 (union)Wayne: $43.16 (survey)Williams: $60.55 (union)Wood: $61.30 (union)Wyandot: $43.16 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$37.06$39.87$43.16$60.55survey 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)$20$40$60$80/hrJefferson (Weirton): market median $24.66, prevailing (union) $60.55, gap +$35.89Jefferson (Weirton)+$35.89Lawrence (Huntington): market median $27.56, prevailing (union) $60.55, gap +$32.99Lawrence (Huntington)+$32.99Belmont (Wheeling): market median $28.01, prevailing (union) $60.55, gap +$32.54Belmont (Wheeling)+$32.54Mahoning (Youngstown): market median $28.47, prevailing (union) $60.93, gap +$32.46Mahoning (Youngstown)+$32.46Carroll (Canton): market median $28.85, prevailing (union) $60.55, gap +$31.70Carroll (Canton)+$31.70Portage (Akron): market median $30.73, prevailing (union) $62.04, gap +$31.31Portage (Akron)+$31.31Lucas (Toledo): market median $30.95, prevailing (union) $61.30, gap +$30.35Lucas (Toledo)+$30.35Cuyahoga (Cleveland): market median $34.49, prevailing (union) $63.12, gap +$28.63Cuyahoga (Cleveland)+$28.63Brown (Cincinnati): market median $32.19, prevailing (union) $60.55, gap +$28.36Brown (Cincinnati)+$28.36Franklin (Columbus): market median $37.96, prevailing (union) $60.55, gap +$22.59Franklin (Columbus)+$22.59Greene (Dayton): market median $30.79, prevailing (survey) $49.60, gap +$18.81Greene (Dayton)+$18.81Clark (Springfield): market median $27.51, prevailing (survey) $41.05, gap +$13.54Clark (Springfield)+$13.54Erie (Sandusky): market median $29.03, prevailing (survey) $41.15, gap +$12.12Erie (Sandusky)+$12.12Allen (Lima): market median $28.30, prevailing (survey) $38.02, gap +$9.72Allen (Lima)+$9.72Richland (Mansfield): market median $31.78, prevailing (survey) $37.06, gap +$5.28Richland (Mansfield)+$5.28
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Ohio.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
CuyahogaUnion ENGI0018-039 2024-05-01$46.71$16.41$63.12OH20260074
PortageUnion ENGI0018-045 2024-05-01$45.63$16.41$62.04OH20260097
SummitUnion ENGI0018-045 2024-05-01$45.63$16.41$62.04OH20260100
LucasUnion ENGI0018-048 2024-05-01$44.89$16.41$61.30OH20260088
WoodUnion ENGI0018-048 2024-05-01$44.89$16.41$61.30OH20260105
MahoningUnion ENGI0066-049 2023-06-01$36.92$24.01$60.93OH20260090
TrumbullUnion ENGI0066-049 2023-06-01$36.92$24.01$60.93OH20260101
BelmontUnion ENGI0018-036 2024-05-01$44.14$16.41$60.55OH20260069
BrownUnion ENGI0018-036 2024-05-01$44.14$16.41$60.55OH20260070
CarrollUnion ENGI0018-035 2024-05-01$44.14$16.41$60.55OH20260106
ClermontUnion ENGI0018-036 2024-05-01$44.14$16.41$60.55OH20260073
CoshoctonUnion ENGI0018-025 2024-05-01$44.14$16.41$60.55OH20260065
FranklinUnion ENGI0018-043 2024-05-01$44.14$16.41$60.55OH20260078
GuernseyUnion ENGI0018-025 2024-05-01$44.14$16.41$60.55OH20260065
HamiltonUnion ENGI0018-036 2024-05-01$44.14$16.41$60.55OH20260082

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Ohio prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Ohio?

289.4kConstruction jobsOhio, 2026-08
+7.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025289kAug 2026
Construction employment in Ohio (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
Delaware County2,405$96,672$1,859
Union County2,117$95,544$1,837
Franklin County24,313$92,686$1,782
Butler County6,913$88,888$1,709
Wyandot County915$87,638$1,685
Jackson County568$87,194$1,677
Fairfield County2,731$87,052$1,674
Pike County301$86,494$1,663
Summit County8,784$84,432$1,624
Cuyahoga County16,326$82,393$1,584
Stark County5,907$81,825$1,574
Shelby County1,206$81,167$1,561

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Ohio

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Ohio?

The median heavy equipment operator in Ohio earned $31.22 an hour ($64,940 a year) in May 2025, 8% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $26.17–$44.68; the top 10% earn more than $47.17.

Where does Ohio rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Ohio ranks 16th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $31.22 an hour, and 15th after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.8, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Ohio?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 28 counties, with a typical package of $60.55 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Ohio?

BLS counted 16,920 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Ohio in May 2025, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.99; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Ohio 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.