Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Washington

Median $39.28 an hour for 10,290 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$39.28/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$81,700/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$27.50 – $60.3310th to 90th percentilehourly range
10,290Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrWashington: 10th $27.50 · 25th $30.96 · median $39.28 · 75th $55.12 · 90th $60.33Washington$39.28$27.50$60.33United 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: Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 5th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 8th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $36.71). 10,290 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$27.50 – $30.96$57,200 – $64,390roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$30.96 – $55.12$64,390 – $114,640the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$55.12 – $60.33$114,640 – $125,490the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrOlympia: $49.55Olympia$49.55Seattle: $46.04Seattle$46.04Bellingham: $44.00Bellingham$44.00Wenatchee: $43.01Wenatchee$43.01Mount Vernon: $41.05Mount Vernon$41.05Kennewick: $38.39Kennewick$38.39Portland: $38.00Portland$38.00Bremerton: $37.39Bremerton$37.39Spokane: $35.75Spokane$35.75Yakima: $34.52Yakima$34.52Walla Walla: $32.57Walla Walla$32.57Longview: $30.84Longview$30.84
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Olympia$25.81$49.55$47.78$59.2726026% above
Seattle$28.77$46.04$41.44$61.744,86017% above
Bellingham$29.55$44.00$42.59$61.0640012% above
Wenatchee$25.85$43.01$41.40$56.782409% above
Mount Vernon$29.32$41.05$40.09$59.791805% above
Kennewick$28.79$38.39$38.35$58.944602% below
Portland$28.62$38.00$36.05$59.273,0403% below
Bremerton$28.07$37.39$35.41$58.471805% below
Spokane$25.05$35.75$35.64$51.757009% below
Yakima$25.11$34.52$36.15$50.3919012% below
Walla Walla$26.00$32.57$33.07$40.085017% below
Longview$25.23$30.84$31.63$51.7719021% below
Lewiston$23.28$29.47$32.31$37.9210025% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Washington over time

Washington, 1999-2025WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$39.28Washington$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Washington vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWashington $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$21.41$41.37$15.317,370
2000$22.74$42.51$15.997,240
2001$23.07$41.94$16.427,390
2002$23.53$42.11$16.947,310
2003$24.30$42.52$16.846,800
2004$24.51$41.77$17.006,940
2005$24.07$39.68$17.238,310
2006$24.34$38.87$17.7410,020
2007$24.61$38.21$18.3310,120
2008$25.74$38.49$18.8810,460
2009$25.89$38.85$19.128,510
2010$26.23$38.73$19.427,380
2011$27.15$38.86$19.966,220
2012$27.58$38.67$20.136,200
2013$28.31$39.12$20.456,640
2014$28.04$38.13$20.927,210
2015$27.73$37.67$21.447,060
2016$28.38$38.07$22.067,510
2017$29.39$38.60$22.617,780
2018$31.19$39.99$22.988,750
2019$32.78$41.28$23.559,000
2020$37.00$46.03$23.938,840
2021$35.88$42.63$23.259,250
2022$36.94$40.64$24.738,060
2023$37.13$39.23$27.008,080
2024$38.07$39.07$28.239,070
2025$39.28$39.28$28.7810,290

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Washington changed by +4.3% over the last ten years of data and by -4.8% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Washington?

+14.3%Jobs since 20199,000 then, 10,290 in 2025
+45.8%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 36th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Washington has changed by +39.6%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +14.3%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Washington vs United States, 1999 = 100WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140160200020052010201520202025147United States140Washington
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Washington vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWashington jobsWashington indexUS index
19997,370100100
20007,24098103
20017,390100109
20027,31099106
20036,80092106
20046,94094110
20058,310113117
200610,020136121
200710,120137124
200810,460142123
20098,510116114
20107,380100103
20116,22084103
20126,20084103
20136,64090105
20147,21098106
20157,06096110
20167,510102110
20177,780106113
20188,750119118
20199,000122125
20208,840120124
20219,250126125
20228,060109130
20238,080110139
20249,070123145
202510,290140147

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 Washington

+7.6%Projected growth in Washington2024–2034, state agency
950Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,600Jobs in 202410,330 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Washington's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +7.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,600 to 10,330, with about 950 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 10,290 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Washington 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 Washington

On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 19 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $66.79 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $35.83). 6 of the 39 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Clallam County at $27.94). The market median for the state is $39.28.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WAAdams: $66.11 (union)Asotin: $63.79 (union)Benton: $28.10 (survey)Chelan: $53.76 (survey)Clallam: $27.94 (survey)Clark: $43.56 (survey)Columbia: $28.10 (survey)Cowlitz: $44.78 (survey)Douglas: $53.76 (survey)Ferry: $66.11 (union)Franklin: $28.10 (survey)Garfield: $63.11 (union)Grant: $66.11 (union)Grays Harbor: $87.45 (union)Island: $27.94 (survey)Jefferson: $27.94 (survey)King: $88.03 (union)Kitsap: $87.06 (union)Kittitas: $27.94 (survey)Klickitat: $76.09 (union)Lewis: $82.45 (union)Lincoln: $63.11 (union)Mason: $27.94 (survey)Okanogan: $66.11 (union)Pacific: $76.09 (union)Pend Oreille: $66.79 (union)Pierce: $56.56 (survey)San Juan: $27.94 (survey)Skagit: $53.76 (survey)Skamania: $43.56 (survey)Snohomish: $45.65 (survey)Spokane: $63.79 (union)Stevens: $66.79 (union)Thurston: $86.78 (union)Wahkiakum: $76.09 (union)Walla Walla: $28.10 (survey)Whatcom: $53.76 (survey)Whitman: $63.11 (union)Yakima: $44.78 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$28.10$53.76$63.65$70.51survey 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)$20$40$60$80$100/hrKitsap (Bremerton): market median $37.39, prevailing (union) $87.06, gap +$49.67Kitsap (Bremerton)+$49.67King (Seattle): market median $46.04, prevailing (union) $88.03, gap +$41.99King (Seattle)+$41.99Thurston (Olympia): market median $49.55, prevailing (union) $86.78, gap +$37.23Thurston (Olympia)+$37.23Asotin (Lewiston): market median $29.47, prevailing (union) $63.79, gap +$34.32Asotin (Lewiston)+$34.32Stevens (Spokane): market median $35.75, prevailing (union) $66.79, gap +$31.04Stevens (Spokane)+$31.04Cowlitz (Longview): market median $30.84, prevailing (survey) $44.78, gap +$13.94Cowlitz (Longview)+$13.94Skagit (Mount Vernon): market median $41.05, prevailing (survey) $53.76, gap +$12.71Skagit (Mount Vernon)+$12.71Chelan (Wenatchee): market median $43.01, prevailing (survey) $53.76, gap +$10.75Chelan (Wenatchee)+$10.75Yakima (Yakima): market median $34.52, prevailing (survey) $44.78, gap +$10.26Yakima (Yakima)+$10.26Whatcom (Bellingham): market median $44.00, prevailing (survey) $53.76, gap +$9.76Whatcom (Bellingham)+$9.76Clark (Portland): market median $38.00, prevailing (survey) $43.56, gap +$5.56Clark (Portland)+$5.56Walla Walla (Walla Walla): market median $32.57, prevailing (survey) $28.10, gap −$4.47Walla Walla (Walla Walla)−$4.47Benton (Kennewick): market median $38.39, prevailing (survey) $28.10, gap −$10.29Benton (Kennewick)−$10.29
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Washington.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
KingUnion ENGI0302-055 2025-06-01$60.46$27.57$88.03WA20260108
Grays HarborUnion ENGI0302-024 2025-06-01$59.88$27.57$87.45WA20260027
KitsapUnion ENGI0302-101 2025-06-01$59.49$27.57$87.06WA20260109
ThurstonUnion ENGI0612-011 2025-06-01$59.46$27.32$86.78WA20260116
LewisUnion ENGI0612-018 2025-06-01$55.13$27.32$82.45WA20260032
KlickitatUnion ENGI0701-010 2025-01-01$58.94$17.15$76.09WA20260031
PacificUnion ENGI0701-011 2025-01-01$58.94$17.15$76.09WA20260036
WahkiakumUnion ENGI0701-010 2025-01-01$58.94$17.15$76.09WA20260040
Pend OreilleUnion ENGI0302-116 2025-06-01$43.39$23.40$66.79WA20260110
StevensUnion ENGI0302-116 2025-06-01$43.39$23.40$66.79WA20260115
AdamsUnion ENGI0302-132 2025-06-01$42.71$23.40$66.11WA20260021
FerryUnion ENGI0302-132 2025-06-01$42.71$23.40$66.11WA20260024
GrantUnion ENGI0302-132 2025-06-01$42.71$23.40$66.11WA20260026
OkanoganUnion ENGI0302-135 2025-06-01$42.71$23.40$66.11WA20260035
AsotinUnion ENGI0302-115 2025-06-01$40.39$23.40$63.79WA20260003

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

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.9kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-09
+0.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kSep 2026
Construction employment in Washington (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 34 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 103,575 in 2015 to 131,891 in 2025, +27.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
King County3,68643,001$99,762$1,919
Cowlitz County2672,630$97,790$1,881
Skagit County3522,570$91,962$1,769
Whatcom County4924,315$87,963$1,692
Chelan County2881,502$84,463$1,624
Thurston County6123,935$82,188$1,581
Asotin County44308$80,442$1,547
Pierce County1,91815,353$79,740$1,533
Snohomish County2,31217,374$79,367$1,526
Benton County5034,809$78,506$1,510
Clark County1,36210,966$76,418$1,470
Kittitas County142868$76,417$1,470

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

More on Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Washington?

The median heavy equipment operator in Washington earned $39.28 an hour ($81,700 a year) in May 2025, 36% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $30.96–$55.12; the top 10% earn more than $60.33.

Where does Washington rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Washington ranks 5th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $39.28 an hour, and 8th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Washington?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 19 counties, with a typical package of $66.79 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Washington?

BLS counted 10,290 heavy equipment operators in Washington in May 2025, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.94; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Washington?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Washington went from 7,060 in 2015 to 10,290 in 2025, +45.8%, and +14.3% since 2019. Washington's labor market agency projects +7.6% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 9,600 to 10,330 jobs.

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

Washington projects about 950 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.