Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Ohio

Median $31.22 an hour for 16,920 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$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 2026-11-06

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 heavy 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 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.52 – $26.17$46,850 – $54,430roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$26.17 – $44.68$54,430 – $92,930the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$44.68 – $47.17$92,930 – $98,100the 75th to 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 heavy equipment operators by metro area in Ohio, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Columbus$24.33$37.96$39.75$47.793,29022% above
Cleveland$23.08$34.49$36.73$47.962,66010% above
Cincinnati$22.70$32.19$33.74$47.843,1203% above
Mansfield$21.97$31.78$35.75$44.481902% above
Toledo$22.09$30.95$33.83$46.927801% below
Dayton$22.73$30.79$33.21$47.007101% below
Akron$22.45$30.73$32.90$47.368302% below
Sandusky$22.55$29.03$32.51$45.462407% below
Canton$20.13$28.85$32.27$44.435308% below
Youngstown$21.74$28.47$32.57$46.714209% below
Lima$21.31$28.30$31.55$44.011309% below
Wheeling$18.76$28.01$31.72$44.4350010% below
Huntington$18.16$27.56$31.18$45.141,04012% below
Springfield$20.29$27.51$30.40$44.6410012% below
Weirton$18.76$24.66$27.71$45.1331021% below

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

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 heavy 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 and by 0.0% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Ohio?

+9.6%Jobs since 201915,440 then, 16,920 in 2025
+11.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 33rd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Ohio has changed by +13.9%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +9.6%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Ohio vs United States, 1999 = 100OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025147United States114Ohio
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Ohio vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearOhio jobsOhio indexUS index
199914,850100100
200013,78093103
200113,42090109
200212,52084106
200311,53078106
200412,09081110
200512,45084117
200612,05081121
200711,54078124
200811,31076123
200910,44070114
201011,30076103
201111,89080103
201212,83086103
201313,19089105
201414,40097106
201515,160102110
201615,310103110
201715,760106113
201815,500104118
201915,440104125
202015,520104124
202113,52091125
202213,58091130
202314,910100139
202416,510111145
202516,920114147

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 Ohio

+2.5%Projected growth in Ohio2024–2034, state agency
1,410Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
16,800Jobs in 202417,220 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Ohio's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +2.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 16,800 to 17,220, with about 1,410 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 16,920 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Ohio 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 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 2026-11-06. 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?

285.5kConstruction jobsOhio, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025286kSep 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. Across the 85 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 125,848 in 2015 to 165,365 in 2025, +31.4%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Delaware County3202,405$96,672$1,859
Union County1132,117$95,544$1,837
Franklin County1,49924,313$92,686$1,782
Butler County5006,913$88,888$1,709
Wyandot County40915$87,638$1,685
Jackson County44568$87,194$1,677
Fairfield County2722,731$87,052$1,674
Pike County28301$86,494$1,663
Summit County7208,784$84,432$1,624
Cuyahoga County1,46616,326$82,393$1,584
Stark County6025,907$81,825$1,574
Shelby County851,206$81,167$1,561

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Ohio

More on 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 heavy equipment operators in Ohio in May 2025, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.99; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Ohio?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Ohio went from 15,160 in 2015 to 16,920 in 2025, +11.6%, and +9.6% since 2019. Ohio's labor market agency projects +2.5% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 16,800 to 17,220 jobs.

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

Ohio projects about 1,410 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, Ohio 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Ohio labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.