Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Virginia

Median $27.48 an hour for 12,100 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$27.48/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$57,160/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.65 – $37.6210th to 90th percentilehourly range
12,100Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Heavy equipment operator pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrVirginia: 10th $19.65 · 25th $23.10 · median $27.48 · 75th $30.45 · 90th $37.62Virginia$27.48$19.65$37.62United States: 10th $20.28 · 25th $23.40 · median $28.78 · 75th $37.10 · 90th $48.60United States$28.78
Hourly wage percentiles for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 36th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 41st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.18). 12,100 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$19.65 – $23.10$40,870 – $48,040roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$23.10 – $30.45$48,040 – $63,330the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$30.45 – $37.62$63,330 – $78,250the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWashington DC: $29.64Washington DC$29.64Charlottesville: $28.75Charlottesville$28.75Kingsport: $26.90Kingsport$26.90Richmond: $26.58Richmond$26.58Virginia Beach: $25.03Virginia Beach$25.03Winchester: $24.42Winchester$24.42Lynchburg: $24.09Lynchburg$24.09Blacksburg: $24.05Blacksburg$24.05Harrisonburg: $23.88Harrisonburg$23.88Roanoke: $23.56Roanoke$23.56Staunton: $23.44Staunton$23.44
Median hourly wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$22.39$29.64$40.476,4508% above
Charlottesville$21.91$28.75$41.203105% above
Kingsport$19.72$26.90$36.737702% below
Richmond$19.54$26.58$35.772,2203% below
Virginia Beach$18.99$25.03$35.442,1509% below
Winchester$18.76$24.42$30.0326011% below
Lynchburg$17.77$24.09$35.0423012% below
Blacksburg$18.39$24.05$35.75—12% below
Harrisonburg$19.17$23.88$30.7126013% below
Roanoke$18.20$23.56$33.9748014% below
Staunton$18.01$23.44$30.6216015% below

Heavy equipment operator wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 1999-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$28.78United States$27.48Virginia
Median hourly wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.29$23.75$15.317,330
2000$13.10$24.49$15.996,950
2001$13.73$24.96$16.427,340
2002$13.90$24.87$16.948,070
2003$14.19$24.83$16.848,050
2004$14.68$25.02$17.0010,050
2005$15.37$25.34$17.2312,500
2006$15.78$25.20$17.7411,650
2007$16.46$25.56$18.3312,760
2008$16.94$25.33$18.8811,810
2009$16.97$25.47$19.1211,230
2010$16.97$25.05$19.429,490
2011$17.38$24.88$19.969,510
2012$17.46$24.48$20.139,200
2013$17.30$23.91$20.459,490
2014$17.89$24.33$20.929,960
2015$18.22$24.75$21.4410,960
2016$18.95$25.42$22.0610,770
2017$19.25$25.28$22.6110,620
2018$19.34$24.80$22.9810,450
2019$20.24$25.49$23.5510,930
2020$21.14$26.30$23.939,800
2021$22.55$26.79$23.2510,950
2022$22.77$25.05$24.7310,600
2023$23.51$24.84$27.0011,510
2024$25.11$25.77$28.2311,280
2025$27.48$27.48$28.7812,100

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Virginia changed by +11.0% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 102 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $17.11). 102 of the 102 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Accomack County at $14.11). The market median for the state is $27.48.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: $14.11 (survey)Albemarle: $17.11 (survey)Alleghany: $11.50 (survey)Amelia: $21.17 (survey)Amherst: $17.11 (survey)Appomattox: $17.11 (survey)Arlington: $28.00 (survey)Augusta: $17.11 (survey)Bath: $11.50 (survey)Bedford: $17.11 (survey)Bland: $11.50 (survey)Botetourt: $17.11 (survey)Brunswick: $14.11 (survey)Buchanan: $11.50 (survey)Buckingham: $17.11 (survey)Campbell: $17.11 (survey)Caroline: $21.17 (survey)Carroll: $11.50 (survey)Charles City: $21.17 (survey)Charlotte: $14.11 (survey)Chesterfield: $21.17 (survey)Clarke: $28.00 (survey)Craig: $17.11 (survey)Culpeper: $28.00 (survey)Cumberland: $14.11 (survey)Dickenson: $11.50 (survey)Dinwiddie: $21.17 (survey)Essex: $14.11 (survey)Fairfax: $21.81 (survey)Fauquier: $28.00 (survey)Floyd: $17.11 (survey)Fluvanna: $17.11 (survey)Franklin: $17.11 (survey)Frederick: $28.00 (survey)Giles: $17.11 (survey)Gloucester: $22.04 (survey)Goochland: $21.17 (survey)Grayson: $11.50 (survey)Greene: $17.11 (survey)Greensville: $14.11 (survey)Halifax: $14.11 (survey)Hanover: $21.17 (survey)Henrico: $21.17 (survey)Henry: $11.50 (survey)Highland: $11.50 (survey)Isle of Wight: $22.04 (survey)James City: $22.04 (survey)King and Queen: $14.11 (survey)King George: $14.11 (survey)King William: $21.17 (survey)Lancaster: $14.11 (survey)Lee: $11.50 (survey)Loudoun: $28.00 (survey)Louisa: $11.50 (survey)Lunenburg: $14.11 (survey)Madison: $11.50 (survey)Mathews: $22.04 (survey)Mecklenburg: $14.11 (survey)Middlesex: $14.11 (survey)Montgomery: $17.11 (survey)Nelson: $17.11 (survey)New Kent: $21.17 (survey)Northampton: $14.11 (survey)Northumberland: $14.11 (survey)Nottoway: $14.11 (survey)Orange: $11.50 (survey)Page: $11.50 (survey)Patrick: $11.50 (survey)Pittsylvania: $14.11 (survey)Powhatan: $21.17 (survey)Prince Edward: $14.11 (survey)Prince George: $21.17 (survey)Prince William: $28.00 (survey)Pulaski: $17.11 (survey)Rappahannock: $28.00 (survey)Richmond: $14.11 (survey)Roanoke: $17.11 (survey)Rockbridge: $11.50 (survey)Rockingham: $17.11 (survey)Russell: $11.50 (survey)Scott: $17.11 (survey)Shenandoah: $11.50 (survey)Smyth: $11.50 (survey)Southampton: $14.11 (survey)Spotsylvania: $28.00 (survey)Stafford: $28.00 (survey)Surry: $14.11 (survey)Sussex: $21.17 (survey)Tazewell: $11.50 (survey)Warren: $28.00 (survey)Washington: $17.11 (survey)Westmoreland: $14.11 (survey)Wise: $11.50 (survey)Wythe: $11.50 (survey)York: $22.04 (survey)Alexandria: —Bristol: —Buena Vista: —Charlottesville: —Chesapeake: $22.04 (survey)Colonial Heights: —Covington: —Danville: —Emporia: —Fairfax: —Falls Church: —Franklin: —Fredericksburg: —Galax: —Hampton: $22.04 (survey)Harrisonburg: —Hopewell: —Lexington: —Lynchburg: —Manassas: —Manassas Park: —Martinsville: —Newport News: $21.15 (survey)Norfolk: $19.76 (survey)Norton: —Petersburg: —Poquoson: —Portsmouth: $22.04 (survey)Radford: —Richmond: —Roanoke: —Salem: —Staunton: —Suffolk: $22.04 (survey)Virginia Beach: $21.97 (survey)Waynesboro: —Williamsburg: —Winchester: —Union / prevailing package, $/hr$14.11$17.11$21.94n/asurvey 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 (survey)$15$20$25$30$35/hrFrederick (Winchester): market median $24.42, prevailing (survey) $28.00, gap +$3.58Frederick (Winchester)+$3.58Arlington (Washington DC): market median $29.64, prevailing (survey) $28.00, gap −$1.64Arlington (Washington DC)−$1.64Gloucester (Virginia Beach): market median $25.03, prevailing (survey) $22.04, gap −$2.99Gloucester (Virginia Beach)−$2.99Amelia (Richmond): market median $26.58, prevailing (survey) $21.17, gap −$5.41Amelia (Richmond)−$5.41Augusta (Staunton): market median $23.44, prevailing (survey) $17.11, gap −$6.33Augusta (Staunton)−$6.33Botetourt (Roanoke): market median $23.56, prevailing (survey) $17.11, gap −$6.45Botetourt (Roanoke)−$6.45Rockingham (Harrisonburg): market median $23.88, prevailing (survey) $17.11, gap −$6.77Rockingham (Harrisonburg)−$6.77Floyd (Blacksburg): market median $24.05, prevailing (survey) $17.11, gap −$6.94Floyd (Blacksburg)−$6.94Amherst (Lynchburg): market median $24.09, prevailing (survey) $17.11, gap −$6.98Amherst (Lynchburg)−$6.98Scott (Kingsport): market median $26.90, prevailing (survey) $17.11, gap −$9.79Scott (Kingsport)−$9.79Albemarle (Charlottesville): market median $28.75, prevailing (survey) $17.11, gap −$11.64Albemarle (Charlottesville)−$11.64
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ArlingtonSurvey SUVA2013-025 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260013
ClarkeSurvey SUVA2013-032 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260018
CulpeperSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260174
FauquierSurvey SUVA2013-035 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260020
FrederickSurvey SUVA2013-036 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260021
LoudounSurvey SUVA2013-041 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260158
Prince WilliamSurvey SUVA2013-046 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260162
RappahannockSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260174
SpotsylvaniaSurvey SUVA2013-050 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260165
StaffordSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260174
WarrenSurvey SUVA2013-053 2016-01-11$23.50$4.50$28.00VA20260168
GloucesterSurvey SUVA2013-064 2016-01-11$20.69$1.35$22.04VA20260176
Isle of WightSurvey SUVA2013-039 2016-01-11$20.69$1.35$22.04VA20260156
James CitySurvey SUVA2013-040 2016-01-11$20.69$1.35$22.04VA20260157
MathewsSurvey SUVA2013-064 2016-01-11$20.69$1.35$22.04VA20260176

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Virginia prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

231.3kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-08
-1.4%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kAug 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Goochland County666$106,792$2,054
Arlington County336$104,574$2,011
Lexington City4$104,428$2,008
Loudoun County19,752$103,592$1,992
Northumberland County97$101,173$1,946
New Kent County276$92,843$1,785
Manassas City1,620$91,326$1,756
Newport News City3,274$89,428$1,720
Alexandria City1,070$85,539$1,645
Henrico County9,415$84,149$1,618
Fairfax County12,936$83,139$1,599
Louisa County596$83,083$1,598

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Virginia?

The median heavy equipment operator in Virginia earned $27.48 an hour ($57,160 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $23.10–$30.45; the top 10% earn more than $37.62.

Where does Virginia rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Virginia ranks 36th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $27.48 an hour, and 41st after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Virginia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Virginia?

BLS counted 12,100 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Virginia in May 2025, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.96; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Virginia 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.