Heavy equipment operator salary in Vermont
Median $28.30 an hour for 1,280 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Heavy equipment operator pay in Vermont: the full range
Vermont ranks 32nd of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 32nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.88). 1,280 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $24.17 – $25.37 | $50,270 – $52,760 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $25.37 – $30.62 | $52,760 – $63,680 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $30.62 – $35.51 | $63,680 – $73,860 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Vermont
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $24.89 | $28.85 | $36.58 | 330 | 2% above |
Heavy equipment operator wages in Vermont over time
Table
| Year | Vermont $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.40 | $22.03 | $15.31 | 1,240 |
| 2000 | $12.31 | $23.01 | $15.99 | 1,130 |
| 2001 | $13.50 | $24.54 | $16.42 | 1,230 |
| 2002 | $13.88 | $24.84 | $16.94 | 1,120 |
| 2003 | $14.27 | $24.97 | $16.84 | 980 |
| 2004 | $14.75 | $25.14 | $17.00 | 1,160 |
| 2005 | $14.81 | $24.41 | $17.23 | 1,490 |
| 2006 | $15.17 | $24.23 | $17.74 | 1,540 |
| 2007 | $16.30 | $25.31 | $18.33 | 1,320 |
| 2008 | $16.54 | $24.73 | $18.88 | 1,230 |
| 2009 | $16.90 | $25.36 | $19.12 | 1,130 |
| 2010 | $16.89 | $24.94 | $19.42 | 1,170 |
| 2011 | $17.17 | $24.57 | $19.96 | 1,050 |
| 2012 | $17.07 | $23.94 | $20.13 | 1,160 |
| 2013 | $17.57 | $24.28 | $20.45 | 1,180 |
| 2014 | $17.83 | $24.25 | $20.92 | 1,220 |
| 2015 | $19.30 | $26.22 | $21.44 | 1,230 |
| 2016 | $19.66 | $26.37 | $22.06 | 1,120 |
| 2017 | $20.36 | $26.74 | $22.61 | 970 |
| 2018 | $20.20 | $25.90 | $22.98 | 920 |
| 2019 | $20.67 | $26.03 | $23.55 | 1,000 |
| 2020 | $21.61 | $26.88 | $23.93 | 1,060 |
| 2021 | $22.83 | $27.12 | $23.25 | 1,000 |
| 2022 | $23.48 | $25.83 | $24.73 | 970 |
| 2023 | $25.62 | $27.07 | $27.00 | 1,100 |
| 2024 | $27.05 | $27.76 | $28.23 | 1,160 |
| 2025 | $28.30 | $28.30 | $28.78 | 1,280 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Vermont changed by +8.0% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Vermont
On federally funded construction in Vermont, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 3 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $16.40). 3 of the 3 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Chittenden County at $17.95). The market median for the state is $28.30.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden | Survey SUVT2011-010 2011-02-10 | $17.00 | $0.95 | $17.95 | VT20260025 |
| Franklin | Survey SUVT2011-011 2011-02-10 | $16.40 | $0.00 | $16.40 | VT20260026 |
| Grand Isle | Survey SUVT2011-012 2011-02-10 | $16.40 | $0.00 | $16.40 | VT20260027 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Vermont prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Vermont?
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.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 3,300 | $78,637 | $1,512 |
| Windham County | 706 | $71,215 | $1,370 |
| Washington County | 814 | $69,024 | $1,327 |
| Orange County | 376 | $68,922 | $1,325 |
| Lamoille County | 484 | $68,037 | $1,308 |
| Orleans County | 457 | $67,586 | $1,300 |
| Windsor County | 729 | $67,272 | $1,294 |
| Franklin County | 459 | $66,119 | $1,272 |
| Addison County | 588 | $63,669 | $1,224 |
| Caledonia County | 391 | $63,212 | $1,216 |
| Rutland County | 1,006 | $62,918 | $1,210 |
| Grand Isle County | 104 | $62,194 | $1,196 |
| Bennington County | 418 | $60,453 | $1,163 |
| Essex County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Vermont
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in Vermont?
The median heavy equipment operator in Vermont earned $28.30 an hour ($58,870 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $25.37–$30.62; the top 10% earn more than $35.51.
Where does Vermont rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
Vermont ranks 32nd of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $28.30 an hour, and 32nd after adjusting for Vermont's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.0, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Vermont?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Vermont counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Vermont?
BLS counted 1,280 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Vermont in May 2025, 4.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.37; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Vermont and metro areas, SOC 47-2073.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.