Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Pennsylvania

Median $29.10 an hour for 22,120 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.10/hrMedian hourly wagePennsylvania, May data
$60,530/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.49 – $45.6410th to 90th percentilehourly range
22,120Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Pennsylvania: the full range

Wage percentiles, PennsylvaniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrPennsylvania: 10th $22.49 · 25th $24.42 · median $29.10 · 75th $37.40 · 90th $45.64Pennsylvania$29.10$22.49$45.64United 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: Pennsylvania vs United States, May 2025.

Pennsylvania ranks 29th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 28th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.82). 22,120 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.49 – $24.42$46,780 – $50,790roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$24.42 – $37.40$50,790 – $77,780the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$37.40 – $45.64$77,780 – $94,930the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Pennsylvania

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrPhiladelphia: $32.12Philadelphia$32.12Allentown: $30.31Allentown$30.31Pittsburgh: $29.96Pittsburgh$29.96Reading: $29.95Reading$29.95York: $29.74York$29.74Lancaster: $29.49Lancaster$29.49State College: $29.11State College$29.11Scranton: $28.52Scranton$28.52Chambersburg: $28.27Chambersburg$28.27Harrisburg: $28.09Harrisburg$28.09Erie: $27.90Erie$27.90Lebanon: $26.80Lebanon$26.80
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Pennsylvania, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Philadelphia$23.45$32.12$31.31$54.475,62010% above
Allentown$22.70$30.31$30.31$45.069204% above
Pittsburgh$22.83$29.96$31.64$45.475,0503% above
Reading$22.04$29.95$30.84$44.925903% above
York$22.56$29.74$30.98$43.227902% above
Lancaster$22.18$29.49$30.00$45.381,0101% above
State College$17.91$29.11$30.07$46.96460about the same as
Scranton$22.49$28.52$30.47$43.339502% below
Chambersburg$21.74$28.27$29.88$35.862803% below
Harrisburg$22.49$28.09$28.46$43.516703% below
Erie$23.80$27.90$30.66$39.222804% below
Lebanon$19.73$26.80$28.76$35.831608% below
Gettysburg$21.83$25.46$26.69$36.2919013% below
Johnstown$22.49$24.92$29.01$38.0523014% below
Williamsport$21.09$24.47$26.51$38.2023016% below
Altoona$18.77$24.42$27.28$31.0023016% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Pennsylvania over time

Pennsylvania, 1999-2025PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.10Pennsylvania$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearPennsylvania $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.42$29.80$15.3115,500
2000$16.70$31.22$15.9918,130
2001$16.98$30.87$16.4219,620
2002$17.45$31.23$16.9418,540
2003$17.39$30.43$16.8418,060
2004$17.13$29.19$17.0017,370
2005$17.15$28.27$17.2318,970
2006$19.67$31.41$17.7415,570
2007$19.84$30.81$18.3316,320
2008$20.55$30.73$18.8816,320
2009$18.57$27.87$19.1220,460
2010$19.11$28.21$19.4220,340
2011$20.28$29.03$19.9621,700
2012$20.57$28.84$20.1322,030
2013$21.25$29.37$20.4521,140
2014$21.17$28.79$20.9219,520
2015$21.15$28.73$21.4420,090
2016$21.77$29.20$22.0620,220
2017$22.52$29.58$22.6120,560
2018$23.41$30.01$22.9821,110
2019$24.46$30.80$23.5520,860
2020$24.63$30.64$23.9320,330
2021$23.49$27.91$23.2522,130
2022$24.75$27.23$24.7323,380
2023$26.82$28.34$27.0021,210
2024$28.16$28.90$28.2320,680
2025$29.10$29.10$28.7822,120

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Pennsylvania changed by +1.3% over the last ten years of data and by -5.5% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Pennsylvania?

+6.0%Jobs since 201920,860 then, 22,120 in 2025
+10.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 20th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Pennsylvania has changed by +42.7%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +6.0%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999 = 100PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160200020052010201520202025147United States143Pennsylvania
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Pennsylvania vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearPennsylvania jobsPennsylvania indexUS index
199915,500100100
200018,130117103
200119,620127109
200218,540120106
200318,060116106
200417,370112110
200518,970122117
200615,570100121
200716,320105124
200816,320105123
200920,460132114
201020,340131103
201121,700140103
201222,030142103
201321,140136105
201419,520126106
201520,090130110
201620,220130110
201720,560133113
201821,110136118
201920,860135125
202020,330131124
202122,130143125
202223,380151130
202321,210137139
202420,680133145
202522,120143147

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 Pennsylvania

+2.4%Projected growth in Pennsylvania2024–2034, state agency
1,820Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
21,680Jobs in 202422,190 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +2.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 21,680 to 22,190, with about 1,820 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 22,120 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

On federally funded construction in Pennsylvania, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 50 of the 67 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $65.74 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $44.01). 17 of the 67 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Adams County at $31.23). The market median for the state is $29.10.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, PAAdams: $31.23 (survey)Allegheny: $56.88 (union)Armstrong: $65.74 (union)Beaver: $65.74 (union)Bedford: $58.19 (union)Berks: $49.81 (survey)Blair: $58.19 (union)Bradford: $75.44 (union)Bucks: $83.40 (union)Butler: $65.74 (union)Cambria: $58.19 (union)Cameron: $58.19 (union)Carbon: $58.44 (union)Centre: $58.19 (union)Chester: $83.40 (union)Clarion: $58.19 (union)Clearfield: $58.19 (union)Clinton: $58.19 (union)Columbia: $45.83 (survey)Crawford: $58.19 (union)Cumberland: $52.31 (survey)Dauphin: $58.84 (survey)Delaware: $83.40 (union)Elk: $58.19 (union)Erie: $56.17 (union)Fayette: $65.74 (union)Forest: $65.74 (union)Franklin: $31.23 (survey)Fulton: $58.19 (union)Greene: $65.74 (union)Huntingdon: $58.19 (union)Indiana: $65.74 (union)Jefferson: $58.19 (union)Juniata: $44.01 (survey)Lackawanna: $75.44 (union)Lancaster: $27.87 (survey)Lawrence: $65.74 (union)Lebanon: $41.90 (survey)Lehigh: $58.44 (union)Luzerne: $75.44 (union)Lycoming: $75.44 (union)McKean: $58.19 (union)Mercer: $65.74 (union)Mifflin: $44.01 (survey)Monroe: $75.44 (union)Montgomery: $30.46 (survey)Montour: $75.44 (union)Northampton: $58.44 (union)Northumberland: $75.44 (union)Perry: $56.83 (survey)Philadelphia: $89.01 (union)Pike: $75.44 (union)Potter: $58.19 (union)Schuylkill: $45.94 (survey)Snyder: $44.01 (survey)Somerset: $58.19 (union)Sullivan: $75.44 (union)Susquehanna: $75.44 (union)Tioga: $75.44 (union)Union: $44.01 (survey)Venango: $58.19 (union)Warren: $58.19 (union)Washington: $65.74 (union)Wayne: $75.44 (union)Westmoreland: $65.74 (union)Wyoming: $46.52 (survey)York: $39.13 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$50.31$58.19$62.98$75.44survey 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)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrPhiladelphia (Philadelphia): market median $32.12, prevailing (union) $89.01, gap +$56.89Philadelphia (Philadelphia)+$56.89Lycoming (Williamsport): market median $24.47, prevailing (union) $75.44, gap +$50.97Lycoming (Williamsport)+$50.97Lackawanna (Scranton): market median $28.52, prevailing (union) $75.44, gap +$46.92Lackawanna (Scranton)+$46.92Armstrong (Pittsburgh): market median $29.96, prevailing (union) $65.74, gap +$35.78Armstrong (Pittsburgh)+$35.78Blair (Altoona): market median $24.42, prevailing (union) $58.19, gap +$33.77Blair (Altoona)+$33.77Cambria (Johnstown): market median $24.92, prevailing (union) $58.19, gap +$33.27Cambria (Johnstown)+$33.27Dauphin (Harrisburg): market median $28.09, prevailing (survey) $58.84, gap +$30.75Dauphin (Harrisburg)+$30.75Centre (State College): market median $29.11, prevailing (union) $58.19, gap +$29.08Centre (State College)+$29.08Erie (Erie): market median $27.90, prevailing (union) $56.17, gap +$28.27Erie (Erie)+$28.27Carbon (Allentown): market median $30.31, prevailing (union) $58.44, gap +$28.13Carbon (Allentown)+$28.13Berks (Reading): market median $29.95, prevailing (survey) $49.81, gap +$19.86Berks (Reading)+$19.86Lebanon (Lebanon): market median $26.80, prevailing (survey) $41.90, gap +$15.10Lebanon (Lebanon)+$15.10York (York): market median $29.74, prevailing (survey) $39.13, gap +$9.39York (York)+$9.39Adams (Gettysburg): market median $25.46, prevailing (survey) $31.23, gap +$5.77Adams (Gettysburg)+$5.77Franklin (Chambersburg): market median $28.27, prevailing (survey) $31.23, gap +$2.96Franklin (Chambersburg)+$2.96Lancaster (Lancaster): market median $29.49, prevailing (survey) $27.87, gap −$1.62Lancaster (Lancaster)−$1.62
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Pennsylvania.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
PhiladelphiaUnion ENGI0542-002 2025-05-01$54.52$34.49$89.01PA20260003
BucksUnion ENGI0542-034 2025-05-01$50.18$33.22$83.40PA20260078
ChesterUnion ENGI0542-034 2025-05-01$50.18$33.22$83.40PA20260083
DelawareUnion ENGI0542-034 2025-05-01$50.18$33.22$83.40PA20260087
BradfordUnion ENGI0542-025 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260044
LackawannaUnion ENGI0542-037 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260091
LuzerneUnion ENGI0542-038 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260095
LycomingUnion ENGI0542-039 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260096
MonroeUnion ENGI0542-039 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260098
MontourUnion ENGI0542-041 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260100
NorthumberlandUnion ENGI0542-031 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260061
PikeUnion ENGI0542-039 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260103
SullivanUnion ENGI0542-025 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260066
SusquehannaUnion ENGI0542-025 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260067
TiogaUnion ENGI0542-025 2025-05-01$44.61$30.83$75.44PA20260068

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

Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?

272.0kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-09
-0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025272kSep 2026
Construction employment in Pennsylvania (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 64 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 139,301 in 2015 to 159,871 in 2025, +14.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Philadelphia County8466,693$98,589$1,896
Montgomery County1,54016,106$96,595$1,858
Delaware County9088,209$90,253$1,736
Bucks County1,63813,004$89,660$1,724
Chester County9288,219$88,826$1,708
Dauphin County2824,004$87,575$1,684
Allegheny County1,73419,111$84,965$1,634
Berks County5965,685$84,441$1,624
Lehigh County4244,680$83,544$1,607
York County6256,931$83,318$1,602
Washington County4334,102$81,236$1,562
Lawrence County124937$80,439$1,547

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Pennsylvania

More on Pennsylvania

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Pennsylvania?

The median heavy equipment operator in Pennsylvania earned $29.10 an hour ($60,530 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $24.42–$37.40; the top 10% earn more than $45.64.

Where does Pennsylvania rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 29th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $29.10 an hour, and 28th after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Pennsylvania?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 50 counties, with a typical package of $65.74 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Pennsylvania?

BLS counted 22,120 heavy equipment operators in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.19; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Pennsylvania?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Pennsylvania went from 20,090 in 2015 to 22,120 in 2025, +10.1%, and +6.0% since 2019. Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects +2.4% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 21,680 to 22,190 jobs.

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

Pennsylvania projects about 1,820 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, Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.