Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Tennessee

Median $25.00 an hour for 10,660 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$25.00/hrMedian hourly wageTennessee, May data
$52,000/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.00 – $36.2710th to 90th percentilehourly range
10,660Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Tennessee: the full range

Wage percentiles, TennesseeMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrTennessee: 10th $20.00 · 25th $22.35 · median $25.00 · 75th $28.54 · 90th $36.27Tennessee$25.00$20.00$36.27United 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: Tennessee vs United States, May 2025.

Tennessee ranks 39th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 40th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.20). 10,660 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$20.00 – $22.35$41,600 – $46,490roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.35 – $28.54$46,490 – $59,360the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.54 – $36.27$59,360 – $75,430the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Tennessee

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrNashville: $26.94Nashville$26.94Kingsport: $26.90Kingsport$26.90Memphis: $25.90Memphis$25.90Clarksville: $24.48Clarksville$24.48Chattanooga: $24.19Chattanooga$24.19Knoxville: $23.41Knoxville$23.41Cleveland: $23.18Cleveland$23.18Morristown: $23.16Morristown$23.16Johnson City: $22.87Johnson City$22.87Jackson: $22.71Jackson$22.71
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Tennessee, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Nashville$22.42$26.94$27.98$35.533,8208% above
Kingsport$19.72$26.90$31.13$36.737708% above
Memphis$19.50$25.90$28.09$35.001,1404% above
Clarksville$19.52$24.48$26.93$33.054202% below
Chattanooga$19.41$24.19$26.44$37.177503% below
Knoxville$20.09$23.41$25.28$37.751,2106% below
Cleveland$18.56$23.18$26.31$31.061607% below
Morristown$18.46$23.16$26.81$28.202207% below
Johnson City$18.46$22.87$26.02$30.652009% below
Jackson$18.26$22.71$26.56$30.902709% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Tennessee over time

Tennessee, 1999-2025TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$25.00Tennessee
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Tennessee vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTennessee $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.17$23.52$15.316,810
2000$12.42$23.22$15.995,410
2001$12.45$22.63$16.425,660
2002$13.02$23.30$16.945,570
2003$13.33$23.32$16.845,700
2004$13.69$23.33$17.006,090
2005$13.90$22.91$17.236,870
2006$14.05$22.44$17.747,830
2007$14.73$22.87$18.337,240
2008$15.65$23.40$18.886,700
2009$15.68$23.53$19.125,980
2010$15.96$23.56$19.425,520
2011$16.23$23.23$19.965,120
2012$16.52$23.16$20.134,530
2013$16.76$23.16$20.454,500
2014$17.39$23.65$20.924,550
2015$17.69$24.03$21.444,730
2016$17.98$24.12$22.064,550
2017$18.23$23.94$22.615,170
2018$18.46$23.67$22.985,470
2019$18.88$23.78$23.556,640
2020$19.14$23.81$23.936,300
2021$18.72$22.24$23.256,750
2022$21.91$24.10$24.737,720
2023$22.73$24.02$27.009,140
2024$23.59$24.21$28.2310,190
2025$25.00$25.00$28.7810,660

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Tennessee changed by +4.0% over the last ten years of data and by +5.2% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Tennessee?

+60.5%Jobs since 20196,640 then, 10,660 in 2025
+125.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 30th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Tennessee has changed by +56.5%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +60.5%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Tennessee vs United States, 1999 = 100TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025156Tennessee147United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Tennessee vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTennessee jobsTennessee indexUS index
19996,810100100
20005,41079103
20015,66083109
20025,57082106
20035,70084106
20046,09089110
20056,870101117
20067,830115121
20077,240106124
20086,70098123
20095,98088114
20105,52081103
20115,12075103
20124,53066103
20134,50066105
20144,55067106
20154,73070110
20164,55067110
20175,17076113
20185,47080118
20196,64098125
20206,30092124
20216,75099125
20227,720113130
20239,140134139
202410,190150145
202510,660156147

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 Tennessee

+12.3%Projected growth in Tennessee2024–2034, state agency
1,040Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
10,630Jobs in 202411,940 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +12.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 10,630 to 11,940, with about 1,040 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 10,660 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Tennessee 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 Tennessee

On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 55 of the 95 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $46.63 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $24.50). The market median for the state is $25.00.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TNAnderson: $46.63 (union)Bedford: $46.63 (union)Benton: $46.63 (union)Bledsoe: $46.63 (union)Blount: $37.52 (survey)Bradley: $24.08 (survey)Campbell: $37.52 (survey)Cannon: $24.50 (survey)Carroll: $46.63 (union)Carter: $21.17 (survey)Cheatham: $24.50 (survey)Chester: $23.06 (survey)Claiborne: $46.63 (union)Clay: $46.63 (union)Cocke: $46.63 (union)Coffee: $46.63 (union)Crockett: $23.06 (survey)Cumberland: $46.63 (union)Davidson: $24.50 (survey)Decatur: $46.63 (union)DeKalb: $46.63 (union)Dickson: $24.50 (survey)Dyer: $46.63 (union)Fayette: $23.06 (survey)Fentress: $46.63 (union)Franklin: $46.63 (union)Gibson: $46.63 (union)Giles: $46.63 (union)Grainger: $37.52 (survey)Greene: $46.63 (union)Grundy: $46.63 (union)Hamblen: $21.17 (survey)Hamilton: $23.94 (survey)Hancock: $46.63 (union)Hardeman: $46.63 (union)Hardin: $46.63 (union)Hawkins: $21.17 (survey)Haywood: $46.63 (union)Henderson: $46.63 (union)Henry: $46.63 (union)Hickman: $24.50 (survey)Houston: $46.63 (union)Humphreys: $46.63 (union)Jackson: $46.63 (union)Jefferson: $21.17 (survey)Johnson: $46.63 (union)Knox: $37.52 (survey)Lake: $46.63 (union)Lauderdale: $46.63 (union)Lawrence: $46.63 (union)Lewis: $46.63 (union)Lincoln: $46.63 (union)Loudon: $37.52 (survey)McMinn: $46.63 (union)McNairy: $46.63 (union)Macon: $24.50 (survey)Madison: $23.06 (survey)Marion: $24.09 (survey)Marshall: $46.63 (union)Maury: $24.50 (survey)Meigs: $46.63 (union)Monroe: $46.63 (union)Montgomery: $19.53 (survey)Moore: $46.63 (union)Morgan: $37.52 (survey)Obion: $46.63 (union)Overton: $46.63 (union)Perry: $46.63 (union)Pickett: $46.63 (union)Polk: $24.08 (survey)Putnam: $46.63 (union)Rhea: $46.63 (union)Roane: $46.63 (union)Robertson: $24.50 (survey)Rutherford: $24.50 (survey)Scott: $46.63 (union)Sequatchie: $24.09 (survey)Sevier: $46.63 (union)Shelby: $23.06 (survey)Smith: $24.50 (survey)Stewart: $46.63 (union)Sullivan: $21.17 (survey)Sumner: $24.50 (survey)Tipton: $23.06 (survey)Trousdale: $24.50 (survey)Unicoi: $21.17 (survey)Union: $37.52 (survey)Van Buren: $46.63 (union)Warren: $46.63 (union)Washington: $21.17 (survey)Wayne: $46.63 (union)Weakley: $46.63 (union)White: $46.63 (union)Williamson: $24.50 (survey)Wilson: $24.50 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$24.42$37.52survey 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)$10$20$30$40$50/hrGibson (Jackson): market median $22.71, prevailing (union) $46.63, gap +$23.92Gibson (Jackson)+$23.92Anderson (Knoxville): market median $23.41, prevailing (union) $46.63, gap +$23.22Anderson (Knoxville)+$23.22Stewart (Clarksville): market median $24.48, prevailing (union) $46.63, gap +$22.15Stewart (Clarksville)+$22.15Bradley (Cleveland): market median $23.18, prevailing (survey) $24.08, gap +$0.90Bradley (Cleveland)+$0.90Marion (Chattanooga): market median $24.19, prevailing (survey) $24.09, gap −$0.10Marion (Chattanooga)−$0.10Carter (Johnson City): market median $22.87, prevailing (survey) $21.17, gap −$1.70Carter (Johnson City)−$1.70Hamblen (Morristown): market median $23.16, prevailing (survey) $21.17, gap −$1.99Hamblen (Morristown)−$1.99Cannon (Nashville): market median $26.94, prevailing (survey) $24.50, gap −$2.44Cannon (Nashville)−$2.44Fayette (Memphis): market median $25.90, prevailing (survey) $23.06, gap −$2.84Fayette (Memphis)−$2.84Hawkins (Kingsport): market median $26.90, prevailing (survey) $21.17, gap −$5.73Hawkins (Kingsport)−$5.73
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Tennessee.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AndersonUnion ENGI0917-003 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260176
BedfordUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260151
BentonUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260152
BledsoeUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260153
CarrollUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260152
ClaiborneUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260154
ClayUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260154
CockeUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260153
CoffeeUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260151
CumberlandUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260155
DecaturUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260156
DeKalbUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260155
DyerUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260156
FentressUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260157
FranklinUnion ENGI0917-006 2024-05-01$33.23$13.40$46.63TN20260158

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

Is construction work growing in Tennessee?

169.4kConstruction jobsTennessee, 2026-09
+0.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025169kSep 2026
Construction employment in Tennessee (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 80 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 69,010 in 2015 to 102,706 in 2025, +48.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Bedford County100921$94,972$1,826
Haywood County27235$90,389$1,738
Roane County54598$87,468$1,682
Marion County28286$87,072$1,674
Williamson County4245,452$85,205$1,639
Davidson County1,18420,362$85,012$1,635
Shelby County85513,271$84,922$1,633
Anderson County941,351$81,706$1,571
Wilson County3042,332$79,342$1,526
Sumner County3383,111$79,181$1,523
Robertson County1521,220$77,372$1,488
Rutherford County5704,977$76,799$1,477

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Tennessee

More on Tennessee

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Tennessee?

The median heavy equipment operator in Tennessee earned $25.00 an hour ($52,000 a year) in May 2025, 13% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $22.35–$28.54; the top 10% earn more than $36.27.

Where does Tennessee rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Tennessee ranks 39th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $25.00 an hour, and 40th after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Tennessee?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 55 counties, with a typical package of $46.63 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Tennessee?

BLS counted 10,660 heavy equipment operators in Tennessee in May 2025, 3.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.06; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Tennessee?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Tennessee went from 4,730 in 2015 to 10,660 in 2025, +125.4%, and +60.5% since 2019. Tennessee's labor market agency projects +12.3% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 10,630 to 11,940 jobs.

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

Tennessee projects about 1,040 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, Tennessee 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: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.