Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Oregon

Median $35.30 an hour for 5,630 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$35.30/hrMedian hourly wageOregon, May data
$73,430/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$25.68 – $56.4010th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,630Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Oregon: the full range

Wage percentiles, OregonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60/hrOregon: 10th $25.68 · 25th $29.42 · median $35.30 · 75th $47.04 · 90th $56.40Oregon$35.30$25.68$56.40United 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: Oregon vs United States, May 2025.

Oregon ranks 14th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 14th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.14). 5,630 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$25.68 – $29.42$53,410 – $61,200roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$29.42 – $47.04$61,200 – $97,840the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$47.04 – $56.40$97,840 – $117,310the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Oregon

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrPortland: $38.00Portland$38.00Salem: $35.71Salem$35.71Albany: $32.73Albany$32.73Bend: $32.46Bend$32.46Eugene: $31.44Eugene$31.44Grants Pass: $30.73Grants Pass$30.73Medford: $30.01Medford$30.01Corvallis: $29.70Corvallis$29.70
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Oregon, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Portland$28.62$38.00$36.05$59.273,0408% above
Salem$27.16$35.71$34.47$56.407501% above
Albany$23.58$32.73$32.06$50.121507% below
Bend$28.83$32.46$31.33$50.975808% below
Eugene$25.17$31.44$30.94$47.0733011% below
Grants Pass$25.75$30.73$31.42$40.589013% below
Medford$24.45$30.01$29.60$47.2527015% below
Corvallis$24.46$29.70$28.56$38.036016% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Oregon over time

Oregon, 1999-2025OregonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$35.30Oregon$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Oregon vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearOregon $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.57$35.89$15.314,270
2000$19.61$36.66$15.993,910
2001$19.13$34.78$16.424,270
2002$20.09$35.95$16.943,990
2003$19.46$34.05$16.843,520
2004$19.43$33.11$17.003,810
2005$20.36$33.56$17.233,230
2006$19.96$31.87$17.743,740
2007$20.98$32.58$18.334,070
2008$21.49$32.13$18.884,100
2009$22.56$33.85$19.123,690
2010$22.97$33.91$19.423,450
2011$24.47$35.02$19.963,690
2012$23.53$32.99$20.133,550
2013$24.10$33.31$20.453,980
2014$23.98$32.61$20.924,070
2015$24.63$33.46$21.443,920
2016$25.38$34.04$22.063,560
2017$25.73$33.79$22.613,770
2018$26.10$33.46$22.984,510
2019$27.40$34.50$23.554,960
2020$28.50$35.45$23.934,400
2021$28.62$34.00$23.254,480
2022$29.21$32.13$24.734,780
2023$30.43$32.15$27.004,660
2024$32.79$33.65$28.235,450
2025$35.30$35.30$28.785,630

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Oregon changed by +5.5% over the last ten years of data and by +2.3% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Oregon?

+13.5%Jobs since 20194,960 then, 5,630 in 2025
+43.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 37th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Oregon has changed by +31.9%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +13.5%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Oregon vs United States, 1999 = 100OregonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025147United States132Oregon
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Oregon vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearOregon jobsOregon indexUS index
19994,270100100
20003,91092103
20014,270100109
20023,99093106
20033,52082106
20043,81089110
20053,23076117
20063,74088121
20074,07095124
20084,10096123
20093,69086114
20103,45081103
20113,69086103
20123,55083103
20133,98093105
20144,07095106
20153,92092110
20163,56083110
20173,77088113
20184,510106118
20194,960116125
20204,400103124
20214,480105125
20224,780112130
20234,660109139
20245,450128145
20255,630132147

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 Oregon

+7.4%Projected growth in Oregon2024–2034, state agency
510Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,650Jobs in 20246,070 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Oregon's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +7.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,650 to 6,070, with about 510 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,630 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Oregon 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 Oregon

On federally funded construction in Oregon, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 33 of the 36 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $71.65 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $53.91). The market median for the state is $35.30.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ORBaker: $71.65 (union)Benton: $53.91 (survey)Clackamas: $71.65 (union)Clatsop: $71.65 (union)Columbia: $71.65 (union)Coos: $71.65 (union)Crook: $71.65 (union)Curry: $71.65 (union)Deschutes: $71.65 (union)Douglas: $71.65 (union)Gilliam: $71.65 (union)Grant: $71.65 (union)Harney: $71.65 (union)Hood River: $71.65 (union)Jackson: $71.65 (union)Jefferson: $71.65 (union)Josephine: $71.65 (union)Klamath: $71.65 (union)Lake: $71.65 (union)Lane: $53.91 (survey)Lincoln: $71.65 (union)Linn: $53.91 (survey)Malheur: $71.65 (union)Marion: $71.65 (union)Morrow: $71.65 (union)Multnomah: $71.65 (union)Polk: $71.65 (union)Sherman: $71.65 (union)Tillamook: $71.65 (union)Umatilla: $71.65 (union)Union: $71.65 (union)Wallowa: $71.65 (union)Wasco: $71.65 (union)Washington: $71.65 (union)Wheeler: $71.65 (union)Yamhill: $71.65 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hrsurvey 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/hrJackson (Medford): market median $30.01, prevailing (union) $71.65, gap +$41.64Jackson (Medford)+$41.64Josephine (Grants Pass): market median $30.73, prevailing (union) $71.65, gap +$40.92Josephine (Grants Pass)+$40.92Crook (Bend): market median $32.46, prevailing (union) $71.65, gap +$39.19Crook (Bend)+$39.19Marion (Salem): market median $35.71, prevailing (union) $71.65, gap +$35.94Marion (Salem)+$35.94Clackamas (Portland): market median $38.00, prevailing (union) $71.65, gap +$33.65Clackamas (Portland)+$33.65Benton (Corvallis): market median $29.70, prevailing (survey) $53.91, gap +$24.21Benton (Corvallis)+$24.21Lane (Eugene): market median $31.44, prevailing (survey) $53.91, gap +$22.47Lane (Eugene)+$22.47Linn (Albany): market median $32.73, prevailing (survey) $53.91, gap +$21.18Linn (Albany)+$21.18
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Oregon.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BakerUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260002
ClackamasUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260095
ClatsopUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260092
ColumbiaUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260096
CoosUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260082
CrookUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260083
CurryUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260084
DeschutesUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260097
DouglasUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260085
GilliamUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260093
GrantUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260093
HarneyUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260086
Hood RiverUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260087
JacksonUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260103
JeffersonUnion ENGI0701-006 2024-01-01$54.75$16.90$71.65OR20260093

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

Is construction work growing in Oregon?

117.9kConstruction jobsOregon, 2026-09
+3.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202625k50k75k100k125k150k19901995200020052010201520202025118kSep 2026
Construction employment in Oregon (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 30 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 50,466 in 2015 to 68,271 in 2025, +35.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Multnomah County1,12814,421$103,962$1,999
Crook County87632$94,024$1,808
Washington County1,13812,297$90,996$1,750
Gilliam County535$84,448$1,624
Clackamas County1,1439,697$84,334$1,622
Jefferson County34131$79,914$1,537
Linn County2462,210$79,045$1,520
Lake County842$78,899$1,517
Umatilla County132877$76,733$1,476
Columbia County96579$76,327$1,468
Marion County9787,006$75,069$1,444
Yamhill County2441,422$74,949$1,441

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Oregon

More on Oregon

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Oregon?

The median heavy equipment operator in Oregon earned $35.30 an hour ($73,430 a year) in May 2025, 23% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $29.42–$47.04; the top 10% earn more than $56.40.

Where does Oregon rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Oregon ranks 14th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $35.30 an hour, and 14th after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.4, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Oregon?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 33 counties, with a typical package of $71.65 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Oregon?

BLS counted 5,630 heavy equipment operators in Oregon in May 2025, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.93; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Oregon?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Oregon went from 3,920 in 2015 to 5,630 in 2025, +43.6%, and +13.5% since 2019. Oregon's labor market agency projects +7.4% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 5,650 to 6,070 jobs.

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

Oregon projects about 510 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, Oregon 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: Oregon labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.