Heavy equipment operator salary in Texas
Median $24.26 an hour for 55,540 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
$24.26/hrMedian hourly wageTexas, May data
$50,460/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.70 – $33.6610th to 90th percentilehourly range
55,540Jobs countedemployer survey
Heavy equipment operator pay in Texas: the full range
Texas ranks 43rd of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 48th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.98). 55,540 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.70 – $22.17 | $38,900 – $46,120 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.17 – $28.84 | $46,120 – $59,990 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $28.84 – $33.66 | $59,990 – $70,010 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Texas
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland | $22.12 | $27.84 | $29.06 | $37.07 | 1,150 | 15% above |
| Beaumont | $18.96 | $27.33 | $30.37 | $36.46 | 1,120 | 13% above |
| Odessa | $20.91 | $26.65 | $28.38 | $35.10 | 670 | 10% above |
| Sherman | $19.38 | $25.66 | $27.36 | $34.88 | 180 | 6% above |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $20.05 | $24.70 | $23.96 | $34.17 | 11,510 | 2% above |
| Houston | $18.83 | $24.54 | $24.89 | $34.60 | 14,000 | 1% above |
| Austin | $19.43 | $24.50 | $24.97 | $34.32 | 5,010 | 1% above |
| Abilene | $17.75 | $23.80 | $26.33 | $30.00 | 230 | 2% below |
| Amarillo | $18.67 | $23.48 | $25.58 | $32.48 | 490 | 3% below |
| San Antonio | $19.15 | $23.44 | $24.75 | $33.67 | 3,980 | 3% below |
| Corpus Christi | $18.47 | $23.23 | $25.06 | $32.22 | 1,160 | 4% below |
| San Angelo | $17.35 | $23.14 | $25.02 | $30.82 | 210 | 5% below |
| Longview | $18.97 | $23.09 | $25.80 | $29.45 | 750 | 5% below |
| College Station | $18.57 | $23.07 | $25.35 | $36.25 | 590 | 5% below |
| Wichita Falls | $17.66 | $23.01 | $25.71 | $29.23 | 180 | 5% below |
| Waco | $18.16 | $22.95 | $24.81 | $29.86 | 470 | 5% below |
| Killeen | $16.84 | $22.88 | $25.12 | $29.55 | 570 | 6% below |
| Victoria | $17.60 | $22.84 | $25.43 | $33.38 | 180 | 6% below |
| Eagle Pass | $12.29 | $22.56 | $26.92 | $35.36 | 50 | 7% below |
| Texarkana | $18.28 | $22.50 | $26.79 | $29.36 | 280 | 7% below |
| Tyler | $17.16 | $22.44 | $24.34 | $30.13 | 290 | 8% below |
| Lubbock | $17.77 | $22.35 | $24.48 | $29.66 | 550 | 8% below |
| Laredo | $17.86 | $22.16 | $25.47 | $24.60 | 280 | 9% below |
| El Paso | $16.75 | $21.94 | $24.40 | $29.58 | 980 | 10% below |
| Brownsville | $15.48 | $19.32 | $22.47 | $27.01 | 330 | 20% below |
| McAllen | $15.11 | $18.85 | $21.94 | $27.27 | 1,010 | 22% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Heavy equipment operator wages in Texas over time
Table
| Year | Texas $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.87 | $22.94 | $15.31 | 22,680 |
| 2000 | $12.83 | $23.99 | $15.99 | 23,730 |
| 2001 | $12.82 | $23.30 | $16.42 | 26,600 |
| 2002 | $12.95 | $23.17 | $16.94 | 25,410 |
| 2003 | $12.87 | $22.52 | $16.84 | 26,110 |
| 2004 | $12.94 | $22.05 | $17.00 | 27,590 |
| 2005 | $13.15 | $21.68 | $17.23 | 28,110 |
| 2006 | $13.60 | $21.72 | $17.74 | 33,900 |
| 2007 | $14.06 | $21.83 | $18.33 | 38,930 |
| 2008 | $14.69 | $21.97 | $18.88 | 42,500 |
| 2009 | $15.15 | $22.73 | $19.12 | 38,370 |
| 2010 | $15.59 | $23.02 | $19.42 | 32,960 |
| 2011 | $16.22 | $23.21 | $19.96 | 32,480 |
| 2012 | $16.27 | $22.81 | $20.13 | 33,480 |
| 2013 | $16.81 | $23.23 | $20.45 | 36,850 |
| 2014 | $17.19 | $23.38 | $20.92 | 36,600 |
| 2015 | $17.74 | $24.10 | $21.44 | 37,170 |
| 2016 | $18.06 | $24.23 | $22.06 | 36,560 |
| 2017 | $18.45 | $24.23 | $22.61 | 38,340 |
| 2018 | $18.94 | $24.28 | $22.98 | 42,880 |
| 2019 | $20.31 | $25.58 | $23.55 | 46,290 |
| 2020 | $20.95 | $26.06 | $23.93 | 45,340 |
| 2021 | $22.18 | $26.35 | $23.25 | 39,020 |
| 2022 | $22.30 | $24.53 | $24.73 | 40,490 |
| 2023 | $22.78 | $24.07 | $27.00 | 49,120 |
| 2024 | $23.87 | $24.50 | $28.23 | 55,290 |
| 2025 | $24.26 | $24.26 | $28.78 | 55,540 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Texas changed by +0.7% over the last ten years of data and by -5.1% since 2019.
Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Texas?
+20.0%Jobs since 201946,290 then, 55,540 in 2025
+49.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 18th of 51 states
Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Texas has changed by +144.9%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +20.0%.
Table
| Year | Texas jobs | Texas index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 22,680 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 23,730 | 105 | 103 |
| 2001 | 26,600 | 117 | 109 |
| 2002 | 25,410 | 112 | 106 |
| 2003 | 26,110 | 115 | 106 |
| 2004 | 27,590 | 122 | 110 |
| 2005 | 28,110 | 124 | 117 |
| 2006 | 33,900 | 150 | 121 |
| 2007 | 38,930 | 172 | 124 |
| 2008 | 42,500 | 187 | 123 |
| 2009 | 38,370 | 169 | 114 |
| 2010 | 32,960 | 145 | 103 |
| 2011 | 32,480 | 143 | 103 |
| 2012 | 33,480 | 148 | 103 |
| 2013 | 36,850 | 162 | 105 |
| 2014 | 36,600 | 161 | 106 |
| 2015 | 37,170 | 164 | 110 |
| 2016 | 36,560 | 161 | 110 |
| 2017 | 38,340 | 169 | 113 |
| 2018 | 42,880 | 189 | 118 |
| 2019 | 46,290 | 204 | 125 |
| 2020 | 45,340 | 200 | 124 |
| 2021 | 39,020 | 172 | 125 |
| 2022 | 40,490 | 178 | 130 |
| 2023 | 49,120 | 217 | 139 |
| 2024 | 55,290 | 244 | 145 |
| 2025 | 55,540 | 245 | 147 |
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 Texas
+10.3%Projected growth in Texas2024–2034, state agency
5,370Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
56,600Jobs in 202462,400 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison
Texas's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +10.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 56,600 to 62,400, with about 5,370 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 55,540 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Texas 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 Texas
On federally funded construction in Texas, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 254 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $13.75). 254 of the 254 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Anderson County at $15.14). The market median for the state is $24.26.
Union contract rateSurvey rate
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | Survey SUTX2014-040 2014-07-21 | $24.38 | $0.00 | $24.38 | TX20260263 |
| Atascosa | Survey SUTX2014-070 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260290 |
| Bandera | Survey SUTX2014-064 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260284 |
| Bastrop | Survey SUTX2014-065 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260285 |
| Caldwell | Survey SUTX2014-066 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260286 |
| Comal | Survey SUTX2014-016 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260240 |
| Guadalupe | Survey SUTX2014-027 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260251 |
| Hays | Survey SUTX2014-030 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260254 |
| Kendall | Survey SUTX2014-034 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260258 |
| Medina | Survey SUTX2014-070 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260290 |
| Travis | Survey SUTX2014-049 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260271 |
| Williamson | Survey SUTX2014-053 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260275 |
| Wilson | Survey SUTX2014-067 2014-07-21 | $19.43 | $3.49 | $22.92 | TX20260287 |
| Hardin | Survey SUTX2014-028 2014-07-21 | $19.74 | $0.00 | $19.74 | TX20260252 |
| Jefferson | Survey SUTX2014-032 2014-07-21 | $18.65 | $0.00 | $18.65 | TX20260256 |
| Montgomery | Survey SUTX2014-038 2014-07-21 | $16.17 | $0.00 | $16.17 | TX20260262 |
| Bexar | Survey SUTX2014-006 2014-07-21 | $15.98 | $0.00 | $15.98 | TX20260231 |
| Bowie | Survey SUTX2014-007 2014-07-21 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | TX20260232 |
| Gregg | Survey SUTX2014-026 2014-07-21 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | TX20260250 |
| Rusk | Survey SUTX2014-063 2014-07-21 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | TX20260283 |
| Smith | Survey SUTX2014-047 2014-07-21 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | TX20260269 |
| Upshur | Survey SUTX2014-063 2014-07-21 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | TX20260283 |
| Brazoria | Survey SUTX2014-008 2014-07-21 | $15.56 | $0.00 | $15.56 | TX20260233 |
| McLennan | Survey SUTX2014-036 2014-07-21 | $13.59 | $1.60 | $15.19 | TX20260260 |
| El Paso | Survey SUTX2014-021 2014-07-21 | $14.43 | $0.74 | $15.17 | TX20260245 |
| Anderson | Survey SUTX2009-001 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260114 |
| Angelina | Survey SUTX2009-003 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260116 |
| Falls | Survey SUTX2009-024 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260137 |
| Freestone | Survey SUTX2009-088 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260201 |
| Grimes | Survey SUTX2009-035 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260148 |
| Houston | Survey SUTX2009-042 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260155 |
| Jasper | Survey SUTX2009-046 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260159 |
| Lee | Survey SUTX2009-100 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260213 |
| Leon | Survey SUTX2009-101 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260214 |
| Limestone | Survey SUTX2009-100 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260213 |
| Madison | Survey SUTX2009-054 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260167 |
| Milam | Survey SUTX2009-101 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260214 |
| Newton | Survey SUTX2009-100 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260213 |
| Polk | Survey SUTX2009-061 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260174 |
| Sabine | Survey SUTX2009-065 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260178 |
| San Augustine | Survey SUTX2009-100 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260213 |
| Shelby | Survey SUTX2009-100 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260213 |
| Trinity | Survey SUTX2009-088 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260201 |
| Tyler | Survey SUTX2009-088 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260201 |
| Walker | Survey SUTX2009-075 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260188 |
| Washington | Survey SUTX2009-100 2009-04-20 | $14.67 | $0.47 | $15.14 | TX20260213 |
| Hidalgo | Survey SUTX2014-031 2014-07-21 | $14.04 | $1.01 | $15.05 | TX20260255 |
| Webb | Survey SUTX2014-051 2014-07-21 | $14.04 | $1.01 | $15.05 | TX20260273 |
| Bell | Survey SUTX2014-005 2014-07-21 | $13.10 | $1.24 | $14.34 | TX20260230 |
| Coryell | Survey SUTX2014-059 2014-07-21 | $13.10 | $1.24 | $14.34 | TX20260279 |
| Lampasas | Survey SUTX2014-059 2014-07-21 | $13.10 | $1.24 | $14.34 | TX20260279 |
| Brazos | Survey SUTX2014-009 2014-07-21 | $14.33 | $0.00 | $14.33 | TX20260234 |
| Burleson | Survey SUTX2014-010 2014-07-21 | $14.33 | $0.00 | $14.33 | TX20260235 |
| Robertson | Survey SUTX2014-044 2014-07-21 | $14.33 | $0.00 | $14.33 | TX20260267 |
| Aransas | Survey SUTX2014-068 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260288 |
| Archer | Survey SUTX2014-069 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260289 |
| Armstrong | Survey SUTX2014-003 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260228 |
| Calhoun | Survey SUTX2014-057 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260277 |
| Callahan | Survey SUTX2014-058 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260278 |
| Carson | Survey SUTX2014-012 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260237 |
| Clay | Survey SUTX2014-069 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260289 |
| Crosby | Survey SUTX2014-060 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260280 |
| Ector | Survey SUTX2014-020 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260244 |
| Goliad | Survey SUTX2014-057 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260277 |
| Irion | Survey SUTX2014-062 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260282 |
| Jones | Survey SUTX2014-058 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260278 |
| Lubbock | Survey SUTX2014-060 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260280 |
| Midland | Survey SUTX2014-037 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260261 |
| Nueces | Survey SUTX2014-068 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260288 |
| Potter | Survey SUTX2014-042 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260265 |
| Randall | Survey SUTX2014-043 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260266 |
| San Patricio | Survey SUTX2014-068 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260288 |
| Taylor | Survey SUTX2014-058 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260278 |
| Tom Green | Survey SUTX2014-062 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260282 |
| Victoria | Survey SUTX2014-057 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260277 |
| Wichita | Survey SUTX2014-052 2014-07-21 | $14.25 | $0.00 | $14.25 | TX20260274 |
| Austin | Survey SUTX2014-004 2014-07-21 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | TX20260229 |
| Chambers | Survey SUTX2014-013 2014-07-21 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | TX20260238 |
| Fort Bend | Survey SUTX2014-023 2014-07-21 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | TX20260247 |
| Galveston | Survey SUTX2014-024 2014-07-21 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | TX20260248 |
| Liberty | Survey SUTX2014-035 2014-07-21 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | TX20260259 |
| San Jacinto | Survey SUTX2014-045 2014-07-21 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | TX20260268 |
| Waller | Survey SUTX2014-050 2014-07-21 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | TX20260272 |
| Harris | Survey SUTX2014-029 2014-07-21 | $13.94 | $0.00 | $13.94 | TX20260253 |
| Andrews | Survey SUTX2009-002 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260115 |
| Bailey | Survey SUTX2009-004 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260117 |
| Baylor | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Bee | Survey SUTX2009-005 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260118 |
| Blanco | Survey SUTX2009-080 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260193 |
| Borden | Survey SUTX2009-081 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260194 |
| Brewster | Survey SUTX2009-007 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260120 |
| Briscoe | Survey SUTX2009-082 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260195 |
| Brooks | Survey SUTX2009-008 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260121 |
| Brown | Survey SUTX2009-009 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260122 |
| Burnet | Survey SUTX2009-010 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260123 |
| Castro | Survey SUTX2009-083 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260196 |
| Childress | Survey SUTX2009-083 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260196 |
| Cochran | Survey SUTX2009-014 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260127 |
| Coke | Survey SUTX2009-080 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260193 |
| Coleman | Survey SUTX2009-084 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260197 |
| Collingsworth | Survey SUTX2009-082 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260195 |
| Colorado | Survey SUTX2009-015 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260128 |
| Comanche | Survey SUTX2009-084 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260197 |
| Concho | Survey SUTX2009-084 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260197 |
| Cottle | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Crane | Survey SUTX2009-081 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260194 |
| Crockett | Survey SUTX2009-017 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260130 |
| Culberson | Survey SUTX2009-018 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260131 |
| Dallam | Survey SUTX2009-085 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260198 |
| Dawson | Survey SUTX2009-081 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260194 |
| Deaf Smith | Survey SUTX2009-085 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260198 |
| DeWitt | Survey SUTX2009-019 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260132 |
| Dickens | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Dimmit | Survey SUTX2009-020 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260133 |
| Donley | Survey SUTX2009-085 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260198 |
| Duval | Survey SUTX2009-021 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260134 |
| Eastland | Survey SUTX2009-022 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260135 |
| Edwards | Survey SUTX2009-086 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260199 |
| Fayette | Survey SUTX2009-026 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260139 |
| Fisher | Survey SUTX2009-027 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260140 |
| Floyd | Survey SUTX2009-028 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260141 |
| Foard | Survey SUTX2009-087 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260200 |
| Frio | Survey SUTX2009-089 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260202 |
| Gaines | Survey SUTX2009-030 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260143 |
| Garza | Survey SUTX2009-087 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260200 |
| Gillespie | Survey SUTX2009-031 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260144 |
| Glasscock | Survey SUTX2009-032 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260145 |
| Gonzales | Survey SUTX2009-033 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260146 |
| Gray | Survey SUTX2009-034 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260147 |
| Hale | Survey SUTX2009-036 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260149 |
| Hall | Survey SUTX2009-090 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260203 |
| Hansford | Survey SUTX2009-038 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260151 |
| Hardeman | Survey SUTX2009-091 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260204 |
| Hartley | Survey SUTX2009-085 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260198 |
| Haskell | Survey SUTX2009-092 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260205 |
| Hemphill | Survey SUTX2009-090 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260203 |
| Hockley | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Howard | Survey SUTX2009-043 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260156 |
| Hudspeth | Survey SUTX2009-044 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260157 |
| Hutchinson | Survey SUTX2009-094 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260207 |
| Jack | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Jackson | Survey SUTX2009-045 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260158 |
| Jeff Davis | Survey SUTX2009-095 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260208 |
| Jim Hogg | Survey SUTX2009-047 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260160 |
| Jim Wells | Survey SUTX2009-096 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260209 |
| Karnes | Survey SUTX2009-097 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260210 |
| Kenedy | Survey SUTX2009-098 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260211 |
| Kent | Survey SUTX2009-092 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260205 |
| Kerr | Survey SUTX2009-048 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260161 |
| Kimble | Survey SUTX2009-049 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260162 |
| King | Survey SUTX2009-092 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260205 |
| Kinney | Survey SUTX2009-098 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260211 |
| Kleberg | Survey SUTX2009-050 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260163 |
| Knox | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Lamb | Survey SUTX2009-052 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260165 |
| La Salle | Survey SUTX2009-099 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260212 |
| Lavaca | Survey SUTX2009-097 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260210 |
| Lipscomb | Survey SUTX2009-090 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260203 |
| Live Oak | Survey SUTX2009-096 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260209 |
| Llano | Survey SUTX2009-102 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260215 |
| Loving | Survey SUTX2009-053 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260166 |
| Lynn | Survey SUTX2009-087 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260200 |
| McCulloch | Survey SUTX2009-102 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260215 |
| McMullen | Survey SUTX2009-099 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260212 |
| Martin | Survey SUTX2009-095 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260208 |
| Mason | Survey SUTX2009-102 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260215 |
| Matagorda | Survey SUTX2009-103 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260216 |
| Maverick | Survey SUTX2009-089 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260202 |
| Menard | Survey SUTX2009-104 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260217 |
| Mills | Survey SUTX2009-104 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260217 |
| Mitchell | Survey SUTX2009-104 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260217 |
| Moore | Survey SUTX2009-090 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260203 |
| Motley | Survey SUTX2009-092 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260205 |
| Nolan | Survey SUTX2009-104 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260217 |
| Ochiltree | Survey SUTX2009-090 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260203 |
| Oldham | Survey SUTX2009-090 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260203 |
| Parmer | Survey SUTX2009-090 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260203 |
| Pecos | Survey SUTX2009-060 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260173 |
| Presidio | Survey SUTX2009-086 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260199 |
| Reagan | Survey SUTX2009-086 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260199 |
| Real | Survey SUTX2009-063 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260176 |
| Reeves | Survey SUTX2009-095 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260208 |
| Refugio | Survey SUTX2009-103 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260216 |
| Roberts | Survey SUTX2009-094 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260207 |
| Runnels | Survey SUTX2009-102 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260215 |
| San Saba | Survey SUTX2009-106 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260219 |
| Schleicher | Survey SUTX2009-106 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260219 |
| Scurry | Survey SUTX2009-066 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260179 |
| Shackelford | Survey SUTX2009-067 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260180 |
| Sherman | Survey SUTX2009-107 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260220 |
| Starr | Survey SUTX2009-108 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260221 |
| Stephens | Survey SUTX2009-068 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260181 |
| Sterling | Survey SUTX2009-106 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260219 |
| Stonewall | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Sutton | Survey SUTX2009-069 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260182 |
| Swisher | Survey SUTX2009-085 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260198 |
| Terry | Survey SUTX2009-091 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260204 |
| Throckmorton | Survey SUTX2009-071 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260184 |
| Upton | Survey SUTX2009-109 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260222 |
| Uvalde | Survey SUTX2009-108 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260221 |
| Val Verde | Survey SUTX2009-073 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260186 |
| Ward | Survey SUTX2009-109 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260222 |
| Wharton | Survey SUTX2009-096 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260209 |
| Wheeler | Survey SUTX2009-107 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260220 |
| Wilbarger | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Willacy | Survey SUTX2009-108 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260221 |
| Winkler | Survey SUTX2009-076 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260189 |
| Yoakum | Survey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260192 |
| Young | Survey SUTX2009-078 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260191 |
| Zapata | Survey SUTX2009-108 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260221 |
| Zavala | Survey SUTX2009-108 2009-04-20 | $13.75 | $0.00 | $13.75 | TX20260221 |
| Terrell | Survey SUTX2009-070 2009-04-20 | $13.74 | $0.00 | $13.74 | TX20260183 |
| Cameron | Survey SUTX2014-011 2014-07-21 | $13.15 | $0.00 | $13.15 | TX20260236 |
| Tarrant | Survey SUTX2014-048 2014-07-21 | $13.09 | $0.00 | $13.09 | TX20260270 |
| Dallas | Survey SUTX2014-017 2014-07-21 | $13.06 | $0.00 | $13.06 | TX20260241 |
| Johnson | Survey SUTX2014-033 2014-07-21 | $13.06 | $0.00 | $13.06 | TX20260257 |
| Parker | Survey SUTX2014-041 2014-07-21 | $13.06 | $0.00 | $13.06 | TX20260264 |
| Wise | Survey SUTX2014-054 2014-07-21 | $13.06 | $0.00 | $13.06 | TX20260276 |
| Grayson | Survey SUTX2014-025 2014-07-21 | $12.89 | $0.00 | $12.89 | TX20260249 |
| Collin | Survey SUTX2014-015 2014-07-21 | $12.83 | $0.00 | $12.83 | TX20260239 |
| Delta | Survey SUTX2014-018 2014-07-21 | $12.83 | $0.00 | $12.83 | TX20260242 |
| Denton | Survey SUTX2014-019 2014-07-21 | $12.83 | $0.00 | $12.83 | TX20260243 |
| Ellis | Survey SUTX2014-022 2014-07-21 | $12.83 | $0.00 | $12.83 | TX20260246 |
| Hunt | Survey SUTX2014-061 2014-07-21 | $12.83 | $0.00 | $12.83 | TX20260281 |
| Kaufman | Survey SUTX2014-061 2014-07-21 | $12.83 | $0.00 | $12.83 | TX20260281 |
| Rockwall | Survey SUTX2014-061 2014-07-21 | $12.83 | $0.00 | $12.83 | TX20260281 |
| Bosque | Survey SUTX2009-006 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260119 |
| Camp | Survey SUTX2009-011 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260124 |
| Cass | Survey SUTX2009-012 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260125 |
| Cherokee | Survey SUTX2009-013 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260126 |
| Cooke | Survey SUTX2009-016 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260129 |
| Erath | Survey SUTX2009-023 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260136 |
| Fannin | Survey SUTX2009-025 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260138 |
| Franklin | Survey SUTX2009-029 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260142 |
| Hamilton | Survey SUTX2009-037 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260150 |
| Harrison | Survey SUTX2009-039 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260152 |
| Henderson | Survey SUTX2009-093 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260206 |
| Hill | Survey SUTX2009-093 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260206 |
| Hood | Survey SUTX2009-040 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260153 |
| Hopkins | Survey SUTX2009-041 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260154 |
| Lamar | Survey SUTX2009-051 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260164 |
| Marion | Survey SUTX2009-055 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260168 |
| Montague | Survey SUTX2009-056 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260169 |
| Morris | Survey SUTX2009-057 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260170 |
| Nacogdoches | Survey SUTX2009-058 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260171 |
| Navarro | Survey SUTX2009-059 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260172 |
| Palo Pinto | Survey SUTX2009-105 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260218 |
| Panola | Survey SUTX2009-105 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260218 |
| Rains | Survey SUTX2009-062 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260175 |
| Red River | Survey SUTX2009-064 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260177 |
| Somervell | Survey SUTX2009-093 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260206 |
| Titus | Survey SUTX2009-072 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260185 |
| Van Zandt | Survey SUTX2009-074 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260187 |
| Wood | Survey SUTX2009-077 2009-04-20 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | TX20260190 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Texas prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Texas?
924.5kConstruction jobsTexas, 2026-09
+1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
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 173 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 374,938 in 2015 to 475,675 in 2025, +26.9%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward County | 22 | 492 | $114,200 | $2,196 |
| Armstrong County | 7 | 186 | $112,884 | $2,171 |
| Marion County | 8 | 82 | $112,162 | $2,157 |
| Bosque County | 24 | 326 | $104,299 | $2,006 |
| Jones County | 20 | 176 | $102,591 | $1,973 |
| Andrews County | 21 | 562 | $97,060 | $1,867 |
| Fayette County | 58 | 635 | $95,031 | $1,828 |
| Midland County | 308 | 4,427 | $94,134 | $1,810 |
| Yoakum County | 15 | 206 | $93,961 | $1,807 |
| Jefferson County | 258 | 6,951 | $92,846 | $1,785 |
| Chambers County | 27 | 181 | $92,338 | $1,776 |
| Brazoria County | 363 | 4,932 | $90,928 | $1,749 |
| Dawson County | 12 | 107 | $90,342 | $1,737 |
| Ector County | 233 | 3,132 | $90,090 | $1,732 |
| Winkler County | 11 | 127 | $86,916 | $1,671 |
| Leon County | 29 | 1,454 | $85,683 | $1,648 |
| Dallas County | 3,321 | 65,657 | $84,825 | $1,631 |
| Liberty County | 103 | 1,218 | $84,075 | $1,617 |
| Fort Bend County | 622 | 7,599 | $83,410 | $1,604 |
| Titus County | 39 | 489 | $83,245 | $1,601 |
| Austin County | 94 | 916 | $83,046 | $1,597 |
| Galveston County | 319 | 4,087 | $82,660 | $1,590 |
| Harris County | 4,976 | 91,950 | $82,512 | $1,587 |
| Travis County | 1,874 | 30,187 | $82,228 | $1,581 |
| Red River County | 10 | 109 | $81,690 | $1,571 |
| Tarrant County | 2,598 | 40,006 | $81,333 | $1,564 |
| Bee County | 17 | 408 | $79,938 | $1,537 |
| Denton County | 940 | 11,897 | $79,247 | $1,524 |
| Collin County | 1,171 | 11,822 | $78,881 | $1,517 |
| Blanco County | 38 | 358 | $78,700 | $1,513 |
| Hutchinson County | 23 | 307 | $78,165 | $1,503 |
| Williamson County | 1,120 | 14,949 | $77,535 | $1,491 |
| San Patricio County | 50 | 1,011 | $76,951 | $1,480 |
| Camp County | 26 | 162 | $76,654 | $1,474 |
| Johnson County | 384 | 3,301 | $76,526 | $1,472 |
| Gaines County | 54 | 672 | $76,114 | $1,464 |
| Hansford County | 8 | 116 | $75,780 | $1,457 |
| Hill County | 47 | 373 | $75,483 | $1,452 |
| Bastrop County | 201 | 1,629 | $75,375 | $1,450 |
| Coleman County | 11 | 83 | $75,342 | $1,449 |
| Atascosa County | 51 | 328 | $75,248 | $1,447 |
| Guadalupe County | 236 | 2,834 | $75,120 | $1,445 |
| Wise County | 171 | 1,770 | $75,026 | $1,443 |
| Lavaca County | 32 | 251 | $74,552 | $1,434 |
| Scurry County | 26 | 242 | $74,385 | $1,430 |
| Eastland County | 35 | 253 | $74,286 | $1,429 |
| Parker County | 337 | 2,579 | $73,654 | $1,416 |
| Randall County | 211 | 2,006 | $73,176 | $1,407 |
| Hays County | 483 | 4,576 | $72,513 | $1,394 |
| Waller County | 98 | 1,095 | $72,458 | $1,393 |
| Taylor County | 236 | 2,754 | $72,436 | $1,393 |
| Nueces County | 416 | 5,393 | $72,243 | $1,389 |
| Bexar County | 2,025 | 29,140 | $72,172 | $1,388 |
| Calhoun County | 32 | 2,353 | $72,006 | $1,385 |
| Hardin County | 70 | 612 | $71,992 | $1,384 |
| Kendall County | 144 | 1,248 | $71,972 | $1,384 |
| Montgomery County | 871 | 9,245 | $71,829 | $1,381 |
| Comal County | 415 | 5,073 | $71,227 | $1,370 |
| Kaufman County | 291 | 2,402 | $71,092 | $1,367 |
| Ellis County | 374 | 4,056 | $71,031 | $1,366 |
| Mitchell County | 7 | 11 | $70,678 | $1,359 |
| Hunt County | 155 | 1,217 | $70,160 | $1,349 |
| Harrison County | 102 | 943 | $69,925 | $1,345 |
| Hockley County | 24 | 254 | $69,918 | $1,345 |
| Runnels County | 18 | 137 | $69,739 | $1,341 |
| Somervell County | 12 | 92 | $69,380 | $1,334 |
| Hamilton County | 16 | 82 | $69,223 | $1,331 |
| McLennan County | 399 | 6,263 | $68,660 | $1,320 |
| Colorado County | 33 | 236 | $68,628 | $1,320 |
| Dallam County | 22 | 122 | $68,129 | $1,310 |
| Grimes County | 53 | 440 | $67,775 | $1,303 |
| Rockwall County | 249 | 2,448 | $67,463 | $1,297 |
| Robertson County | 26 | 356 | $67,310 | $1,294 |
| Hood County | 134 | 705 | $67,124 | $1,291 |
| Polk County | 60 | 422 | $67,080 | $1,290 |
| Angelina County | 116 | 1,512 | $67,011 | $1,289 |
| Panola County | 30 | 184 | $66,680 | $1,282 |
| Grayson County | 227 | 1,949 | $66,674 | $1,282 |
| Orange County | 85 | 747 | $66,486 | $1,279 |
| Lubbock County | 551 | 5,273 | $66,080 | $1,271 |
| Clay County | 8 | 40 | $66,047 | $1,270 |
| Upshur County | 48 | 566 | $65,907 | $1,267 |
| Erath County | 89 | 671 | $65,903 | $1,267 |
| Navarro County | 53 | 297 | $65,866 | $1,267 |
| Jackson County | 27 | 271 | $65,708 | $1,264 |
| Victoria County | 119 | 1,141 | $64,842 | $1,247 |
| Rains County | 28 | 202 | $64,787 | $1,246 |
| Potter County | 248 | 2,597 | $64,125 | $1,233 |
| Gregg County | 210 | 4,793 | $63,989 | $1,231 |
| Brazos County | 297 | 3,096 | $63,877 | $1,228 |
| Hopkins County | 53 | 384 | $63,557 | $1,222 |
| Jack County | 18 | 58 | $63,473 | $1,221 |
| Cherokee County | 39 | 316 | $63,434 | $1,220 |
| Burnet County | 170 | 1,078 | $63,170 | $1,215 |
| Mason County | 12 | 79 | $62,998 | $1,211 |
| Gray County | 27 | 300 | $62,914 | $1,210 |
| Tom Green County | 206 | 1,514 | $62,292 | $1,198 |
| Burleson County | 28 | 161 | $62,277 | $1,198 |
| Gillespie County | 85 | 721 | $62,217 | $1,196 |
| La Salle County | 5 | 39 | $61,851 | $1,189 |
| Smith County | 396 | 3,674 | $61,845 | $1,189 |
| Duval County | 6 | 93 | $61,738 | $1,187 |
| Caldwell County | 90 | 591 | $61,691 | $1,186 |
| Franklin County | 18 | 118 | $61,683 | $1,186 |
| Deaf Smith County | 21 | 145 | $61,661 | $1,186 |
| DeWitt County | 30 | 228 | $61,594 | $1,184 |
| Wilson County | 104 | 728 | $61,520 | $1,183 |
| Bell County | 369 | 3,316 | $61,518 | $1,183 |
| Bowie County | 121 | 1,307 | $61,433 | $1,181 |
| Walker County | 80 | 503 | $60,678 | $1,167 |
| Van Zandt County | 115 | 805 | $60,620 | $1,166 |
| Fannin County | 55 | 722 | $60,388 | $1,161 |
| Medina County | 68 | 447 | $60,309 | $1,160 |
| Lee County | 38 | 195 | $59,958 | $1,153 |
| Wharton County | 54 | 358 | $59,648 | $1,147 |
| Houston County | 40 | 175 | $59,562 | $1,145 |
| Cooke County | 84 | 675 | $59,489 | $1,144 |
| Llano County | 52 | 322 | $59,292 | $1,140 |
| Lamar County | 101 | 620 | $58,858 | $1,132 |
| Wichita County | 169 | 1,359 | $58,633 | $1,128 |
| Kerr County | 122 | 1,016 | $58,110 | $1,118 |
| Hale County | 40 | 288 | $58,100 | $1,117 |
| Brown County | 56 | 348 | $58,027 | $1,116 |
| Jasper County | 30 | 269 | $57,986 | $1,115 |
| Henderson County | 120 | 721 | $57,979 | $1,115 |
| Washington County | 78 | 521 | $57,956 | $1,115 |
| Palo Pinto County | 45 | 162 | $57,711 | $1,110 |
| Coryell County | 53 | 421 | $57,499 | $1,106 |
| Anderson County | 72 | 361 | $57,291 | $1,102 |
| Nacogdoches County | 57 | 472 | $56,640 | $1,089 |
| Archer County | 18 | 92 | $56,094 | $1,079 |
| Delta County | 5 | 34 | $56,057 | $1,078 |
| Madison County | 17 | 69 | $55,774 | $1,073 |
| Callahan County | 31 | 133 | $55,730 | $1,072 |
| Wood County | 67 | 326 | $55,678 | $1,071 |
| Coke County | 8 | 44 | $55,174 | $1,061 |
| Lampasas County | 72 | 542 | $55,138 | $1,060 |
| Bandera County | 44 | 242 | $54,984 | $1,057 |
| Shelby County | 26 | 135 | $54,803 | $1,054 |
| Aransas County | 50 | 226 | $54,758 | $1,053 |
| Hartley County | 6 | 23 | $54,632 | $1,051 |
| Cameron County | 239 | 2,296 | $54,601 | $1,050 |
| Milam County | 36 | 147 | $54,138 | $1,041 |
| El Paso County | 834 | 8,656 | $53,701 | $1,033 |
| Cass County | 33 | 147 | $53,684 | $1,032 |
| Falls County | 12 | 56 | $53,328 | $1,026 |
| Goliad County | 12 | 28 | $53,071 | $1,021 |
| Zapata County | 6 | 82 | $52,726 | $1,014 |
| San Saba County | 7 | 27 | $52,451 | $1,009 |
| Baylor County | 7 | 22 | $52,450 | $1,009 |
| Webb County | 178 | 1,379 | $52,269 | $1,005 |
| Montague County | 30 | 125 | $52,268 | $1,005 |
| Parmer County | 15 | 66 | $52,239 | $1,005 |
| Jim Wells County | 36 | 224 | $52,030 | $1,001 |
| Hidalgo County | 469 | 4,786 | $51,870 | $997 |
| Stephens County | 25 | 170 | $51,849 | $997 |
| Young County | 36 | 181 | $51,737 | $995 |
| Ochiltree County | 18 | 108 | $51,560 | $992 |
| Maverick County | 33 | 132 | $51,484 | $990 |
| Knox County | 3 | 30 | $51,348 | $987 |
| Karnes County | 14 | 34 | $51,260 | $986 |
| Val Verde County | 32 | 189 | $50,921 | $979 |
| Freestone County | 22 | 97 | $50,233 | $966 |
| Willacy County | 6 | 42 | $49,527 | $952 |
| San Jacinto County | 32 | 132 | $49,217 | $946 |
| Kleberg County | 17 | 107 | $48,495 | $933 |
| Childress County | 8 | 30 | $46,639 | $897 |
| Rusk County | 46 | 224 | $46,410 | $893 |
| Live Oak County | 8 | 19 | $46,185 | $888 |
| Terry County | 7 | 38 | $45,946 | $884 |
| Uvalde County | 33 | 180 | $45,750 | $880 |
| Lamb County | 8 | 38 | $44,742 | $860 |
| Sabine County | 10 | 58 | $43,714 | $841 |
| Mills County | 14 | 52 | $43,621 | $839 |
| Wilbarger County | 12 | 47 | $43,432 | $835 |
| Comanche County | 16 | 59 | $42,581 | $819 |
| Haskell County | 4 | 7 | $41,908 | $806 |
| McCulloch County | 19 | 54 | $39,885 | $767 |
| Starr County | 18 | 74 | $34,812 | $669 |
| Bailey County | — | — | — | — |
| Brewster County | — | — | — | — |
| Briscoe County | — | — | — | — |
| Brooks County | — | — | — | — |
| Carson County | — | — | — | — |
| Castro County | — | — | — | — |
| Cochran County | — | — | — | — |
| Collingsworth County | — | — | — | — |
| Concho County | — | — | — | — |
| Cottle County | — | — | — | — |
| Crane County | — | — | — | — |
| Crockett County | — | — | — | — |
| Crosby County | — | — | — | — |
| Culberson County | — | — | — | — |
| Dickens County | — | — | — | — |
| Dimmit County | — | — | — | — |
| Donley County | — | — | — | — |
| Edwards County | — | — | — | — |
| Fisher County | — | — | — | — |
| Floyd County | — | — | — | — |
| Foard County | — | — | — | — |
| Frio County | — | — | — | — |
| Garza County | — | — | — | — |
| Glasscock County | — | — | — | — |
| Gonzales County | — | — | — | — |
| Hall County | — | — | — | — |
| Hardeman County | — | — | — | — |
| Hemphill County | — | — | — | — |
| Howard County | — | — | — | — |
| Hudspeth County | — | — | — | — |
| Irion County | — | — | — | — |
| Jeff Davis County | — | — | — | — |
| Jim Hogg County | — | — | — | — |
| Kimble County | — | — | — | — |
| Kinney County | — | — | — | — |
| Limestone County | — | — | — | — |
| Lipscomb County | — | — | — | — |
| Loving County | — | — | — | — |
| Lynn County | — | — | — | — |
| McMullen County | — | — | — | — |
| Martin County | — | — | — | — |
| Matagorda County | — | — | — | — |
| Menard County | — | — | — | — |
| Moore County | — | — | — | — |
| Morris County | — | — | — | — |
| Motley County | — | — | — | — |
| Newton County | — | — | — | — |
| Nolan County | — | — | — | — |
| Oldham County | — | — | — | — |
| Pecos County | — | — | — | — |
| Presidio County | — | — | — | — |
| Reagan County | — | — | — | — |
| Real County | — | — | — | — |
| Reeves County | — | — | — | — |
| Refugio County | — | — | — | — |
| Roberts County | — | — | — | — |
| San Augustine County | — | — | — | — |
| Schleicher County | — | — | — | — |
| Shackelford County | — | — | — | — |
| Sherman County | — | — | — | — |
| Sterling County | — | — | — | — |
| Stonewall County | — | — | — | — |
| Sutton County | — | — | — | — |
| Swisher County | — | — | — | — |
| Terrell County | — | — | — | — |
| Throckmorton County | — | — | — | — |
| Trinity County | — | — | — | — |
| Tyler County | — | — | — | — |
| Upton County | — | — | — | — |
| Wheeler County | — | — | — | — |
| Zavala County | — | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Texas
More on Texas
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in Texas?
The median heavy equipment operator in Texas earned $24.26 an hour ($50,460 a year) in May 2025, 16% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $22.17–$28.84; the top 10% earn more than $33.66.
Where does Texas rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
Texas ranks 43rd of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $24.26 an hour, and 48th after adjusting for Texas's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Texas?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Texas counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Texas?
BLS counted 55,540 heavy equipment operators in Texas in May 2025, 4.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.28; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Texas?
The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Texas went from 37,170 in 2015 to 55,540 in 2025, +49.4%, and +20.0% since 2019. Texas's labor market agency projects +10.3% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 56,600 to 62,400 jobs.
How many heavy equipment operator openings a year are there in Texas?
Texas projects about 5,370 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, Texas 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: Texas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.