Skilled Wages

Heavy equipment operator salary in Wisconsin

Median $36.19 an hour for 8,140 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$36.19/hrMedian hourly wageWisconsin, May data
$75,280/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$24.70 – $48.1510th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,140Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Heavy equipment operator pay in Wisconsin: the full range

Wage percentiles, WisconsinMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrWisconsin: 10th $24.70 · 25th $29.58 · median $36.19 · 75th $45.49 · 90th $48.15Wisconsin$36.19$24.70$48.15United 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: Wisconsin vs United States, May 2025.

Wisconsin ranks 12th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 6th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $38.46). 8,140 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$24.70 – $29.58$51,370 – $61,520roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$29.58 – $45.49$61,520 – $94,610the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$45.49 – $48.15$94,610 – $100,140the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Wisconsin

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrWausau: $43.70Wausau$43.70Racine: $43.43Racine$43.43Minneapolis: $40.07Minneapolis$40.07Madison: $39.93Madison$39.93Appleton: $39.91Appleton$39.91Milwaukee: $38.19Milwaukee$38.19Oshkosh: $37.03Oshkosh$37.03Green Bay: $36.68Green Bay$36.68Eau Claire: $36.53Eau Claire$36.53Duluth: $36.08Duluth$36.08Kenosha: $35.19Kenosha$35.19Fond du Lac: $34.40Fond du Lac$34.40
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by metro area in Wisconsin, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Wausau$23.96$43.70$47.14$46.1620021% above
Racine$30.57$43.43$45.24$47.3028020% above
Minneapolis$28.89$40.07$38.23$50.124,27011% above
Madison$28.29$39.93$41.04$49.2668010% above
Appleton$27.65$39.91$43.19$47.7548010% above
Milwaukee$29.52$38.19$39.41$48.492,0706% above
Oshkosh$25.99$37.03$39.86$47.271502% above
Green Bay$25.27$36.68$39.40$55.324201% above
Eau Claire$26.72$36.53$39.36$46.682601% above
Duluth$22.98$36.08$40.63$45.74770about the same as
Kenosha$28.27$35.19$34.81$46.811203% below
Fond du Lac$23.78$34.40$37.55$45.561605% below
La Crosse$23.40$34.34$37.41$48.151205% below
Janesville$24.21$31.88$34.02$46.5224012% below
Sheboygan$27.75$30.91$32.88$48.3510015% below

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

Heavy equipment operator wages in Wisconsin over time

Wisconsin, 1999-2025WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$36.19Wisconsin$28.78United States
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators, Wisconsin vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWisconsin $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$20.03$38.71$15.318,860
2000$20.90$39.07$15.998,140
2001$21.40$38.90$16.428,140
2002$22.64$40.52$16.947,310
2003$21.99$38.48$16.846,820
2004$21.28$36.27$17.007,350
2005$20.91$34.47$17.238,530
2006$21.74$34.72$17.748,460
2007$23.60$36.64$18.338,790
2008$25.11$37.55$18.888,460
2009$24.80$37.22$19.127,530
2010$24.17$35.69$19.426,540
2011$24.57$35.17$19.965,740
2012$25.19$35.32$20.135,770
2013$24.95$34.48$20.456,100
2014$26.76$36.39$20.927,060
2015$25.55$34.70$21.447,740
2016$26.43$35.45$22.067,790
2017$28.74$37.75$22.618,000
2018$30.44$39.03$22.987,970
2019$31.69$39.91$23.558,370
2020$31.12$38.71$23.938,780
2021$29.44$34.98$23.258,750
2022$31.74$34.92$24.738,800
2023$31.88$33.68$27.009,770
2024$34.93$35.85$28.238,320
2025$36.19$36.19$28.788,140

In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Wisconsin changed by +4.3% over the last ten years of data and by -9.3% since 2019.

Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in Wisconsin?

-2.7%Jobs since 20198,370 then, 8,140 in 2025
+5.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.8Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 39th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in Wisconsin has changed by -8.1%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -2.7%.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Wisconsin vs United States, 1999 = 100WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025147United States92Wisconsin
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Wisconsin vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWisconsin jobsWisconsin indexUS index
19998,860100100
20008,14092103
20018,14092109
20027,31082106
20036,82077106
20047,35083110
20058,53096117
20068,46096121
20078,79099124
20088,46096123
20097,53085114
20106,54074103
20115,74065103
20125,77065103
20136,10069105
20147,06080106
20157,74087110
20167,79088110
20178,00090113
20187,97090118
20198,37094125
20208,78099124
20218,75099125
20228,80099130
20239,770110139
20248,32094145
20258,14092147

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 Wisconsin

+8.1%Projected growth in Wisconsin2024–2034, state agency
760Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
8,250Jobs in 20248,920 projected for 2034
+4.6%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Wisconsin's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +8.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,250 to 8,920, with about 760 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,140 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

On federally funded construction in Wisconsin, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 20 of the 72 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $77.17 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $25.06). 52 of the 72 counties still use a survey rate dated 2002 or earlier (for example Adams County at $25.06). The market median for the state is $36.19.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WIAdams: $25.06 (survey)Ashland: $25.06 (survey)Barron: $25.06 (survey)Bayfield: $25.06 (survey)Brown: $77.17 (union)Buffalo: $25.06 (survey)Burnett: $25.06 (survey)Calumet: $77.17 (union)Chippewa: $77.17 (union)Clark: $25.06 (survey)Columbia: $25.06 (survey)Crawford: $25.06 (survey)Dane: $77.17 (union)Dodge: $25.06 (survey)Door: $25.06 (survey)Douglas: $77.17 (union)Dunn: $25.06 (survey)Eau Claire: $77.17 (union)Florence: $25.06 (survey)Fond du Lac: $25.06 (survey)Forest: $25.06 (survey)Grant: $25.06 (survey)Green: $25.06 (survey)Green Lake: $25.06 (survey)Iowa: $25.06 (survey)Iron: $25.06 (survey)Jackson: $25.06 (survey)Jefferson: $25.06 (survey)Juneau: $25.06 (survey)Kenosha: $82.76 (union)Kewaunee: $25.06 (survey)La Crosse: $77.17 (union)Lafayette: $25.06 (survey)Langlade: $25.06 (survey)Lincoln: $25.06 (survey)Manitowoc: $25.06 (survey)Marathon: $77.17 (union)Marinette: $25.06 (survey)Marquette: $25.06 (survey)Menominee: $25.06 (survey)Milwaukee: $82.76 (union)Monroe: $25.06 (survey)Oconto: $25.06 (survey)Oneida: $25.06 (survey)Outagamie: $77.17 (union)Ozaukee: $82.76 (union)Pepin: $25.06 (survey)Pierce: $77.17 (union)Polk: $25.06 (survey)Portage: $25.06 (survey)Price: $25.06 (survey)Racine: $82.76 (union)Richland: $25.06 (survey)Rock: $77.17 (union)Rusk: $25.06 (survey)St. Croix: $77.17 (union)Sauk: $25.06 (survey)Sawyer: $25.06 (survey)Shawano: $25.06 (survey)Sheboygan: $77.17 (union)Taylor: $25.06 (survey)Trempealeau: $25.06 (survey)Vernon: $25.06 (survey)Vilas: $25.06 (survey)Walworth: $25.06 (survey)Washburn: $25.06 (survey)Washington: $82.76 (union)Waukesha: $82.76 (union)Waupaca: $25.06 (survey)Waushara: $25.06 (survey)Winnebago: $77.17 (union)Wood: $25.06 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$77.17survey 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/hrKenosha (Kenosha): market median $35.19, prevailing (union) $82.76, gap +$47.57Kenosha (Kenosha)+$47.57Sheboygan (Sheboygan): market median $30.91, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$46.26Sheboygan (Sheboygan)+$46.26Rock (Janesville): market median $31.88, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$45.29Rock (Janesville)+$45.29Milwaukee (Milwaukee): market median $38.19, prevailing (union) $82.76, gap +$44.57Milwaukee (Milwaukee)+$44.57La Crosse (La Crosse): market median $34.34, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$42.83La Crosse (La Crosse)+$42.83Douglas (Duluth): market median $36.08, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$41.09Douglas (Duluth)+$41.09Chippewa (Eau Claire): market median $36.53, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$40.64Chippewa (Eau Claire)+$40.64Brown (Green Bay): market median $36.68, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$40.49Brown (Green Bay)+$40.49Winnebago (Oshkosh): market median $37.03, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$40.14Winnebago (Oshkosh)+$40.14Racine (Racine): market median $43.43, prevailing (union) $82.76, gap +$39.33Racine (Racine)+$39.33Calumet (Appleton): market median $39.91, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$37.26Calumet (Appleton)+$37.26Dane (Madison): market median $39.93, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$37.24Dane (Madison)+$37.24Pierce (Minneapolis): market median $40.07, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$37.10Pierce (Minneapolis)+$37.10Marathon (Wausau): market median $43.70, prevailing (union) $77.17, gap +$33.47Marathon (Wausau)+$33.47Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac): market median $34.40, prevailing (survey) $25.06, gap −$9.34Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac)−$9.34
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for heavy equipment operators, metro counties in Wisconsin.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
KenoshaUnion ENGI0139-001 2025-06-01$54.21$28.55$82.76WI20260004
MilwaukeeUnion ENGI0139-001 2025-06-01$54.21$28.55$82.76WI20260001
OzaukeeUnion ENGI0139-001 2025-06-01$54.21$28.55$82.76WI20260001
RacineUnion ENGI0139-001 2025-06-01$54.21$28.55$82.76WI20260009
WashingtonUnion ENGI0139-001 2025-06-01$54.21$28.55$82.76WI20260001
WaukeshaUnion ENGI0139-001 2025-06-01$54.21$28.55$82.76WI20260001
BrownUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260014
CalumetUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260016
ChippewaUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260006
DaneUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260005
DouglasUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260007
Eau ClaireUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260006
La CrosseUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260003
MarathonUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260002
OutagamieUnion ENGI0139-002 2025-06-02$49.28$27.89$77.17WI20260016

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

Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?

160.1kConstruction jobsWisconsin, 2026-09
+5.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025160kSep 2026
Construction employment in Wisconsin (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 65 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 67,193 in 2015 to 92,281 in 2025, +37.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Bayfield County43271$111,909$2,152
Racine County3323,219$97,833$1,881
Milwaukee County8949,679$90,054$1,732
Waukesha County1,03414,002$89,440$1,720
Fond du Lac County1781,784$88,767$1,707
Outagamie County4706,024$86,801$1,669
Winnebago County2633,218$85,901$1,652
Dodge County1701,226$84,364$1,622
Dane County85810,631$83,128$1,599
Brown County4925,798$79,780$1,534
Marathon County2652,174$79,227$1,524
Dunn County76566$78,118$1,502

Keep comparing

Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Wisconsin

More on Wisconsin

Questions this page answers

How much do heavy equipment operators make in Wisconsin?

The median heavy equipment operator in Wisconsin earned $36.19 an hour ($75,280 a year) in May 2025, 26% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $29.58–$45.49; the top 10% earn more than $48.15.

Where does Wisconsin rank for heavy equipment operator pay?

Wisconsin ranks 12th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $36.19 an hour, and 6th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).

What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Wisconsin?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for heavy equipment operators in 20 counties, with a typical package of $77.17 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many heavy equipment operators work in Wisconsin?

BLS counted 8,140 heavy equipment operators in Wisconsin in May 2025, 2.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.90; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is heavy equipment operator work growing in Wisconsin?

The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in Wisconsin went from 7,740 in 2015 to 8,140 in 2025, +5.2%, and -2.7% since 2019. Wisconsin's labor market agency projects +8.1% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 8,250 to 8,920 jobs.

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

Wisconsin projects about 760 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, Wisconsin 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: Wisconsin labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.