Heavy equipment operator salary in Wyoming
Median $30.27 an hour for 3,800 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 Wyoming: the full range
Wyoming ranks 18th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 18th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.65). 3,800 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $23.26 – $26.14 | $48,370 – $54,370 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $26.14 – $40.84 | $54,370 – $84,950 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $40.84 – $41.17 | $84,950 – $85,630 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in Wyoming
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne | $21.59 | $27.87 | $34.51 | 270 | 8% below |
| Casper | $20.88 | $26.38 | $35.34 | 280 | 13% below |
Heavy equipment operator wages in Wyoming over time
Table
| Year | Wyoming $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.19 | $25.49 | $15.31 | 1,530 |
| 2000 | $14.57 | $27.24 | $15.99 | 1,840 |
| 2001 | $15.02 | $27.30 | $16.42 | 2,340 |
| 2002 | $15.43 | $27.61 | $16.94 | 2,380 |
| 2003 | $15.86 | $27.75 | $16.84 | 2,490 |
| 2004 | $16.04 | $27.34 | $17.00 | 2,590 |
| 2005 | $16.96 | $27.96 | $17.23 | 3,330 |
| 2006 | $17.59 | $28.09 | $17.74 | 3,750 |
| 2007 | $18.95 | $29.42 | $18.33 | — |
| 2008 | $19.05 | $28.49 | $18.88 | 4,830 |
| 2009 | $19.92 | $29.89 | $19.12 | 4,740 |
| 2010 | $22.89 | $33.80 | $19.42 | 4,430 |
| 2011 | $22.56 | $32.29 | $19.96 | 5,600 |
| 2012 | $22.10 | $30.99 | $20.13 | 5,550 |
| 2013 | $22.56 | $31.18 | $20.45 | 5,850 |
| 2014 | $25.45 | $34.61 | $20.92 | 5,120 |
| 2015 | $26.23 | $35.63 | $21.44 | 4,910 |
| 2016 | $26.95 | $36.15 | $22.06 | 4,150 |
| 2017 | $27.15 | $35.66 | $22.61 | 3,960 |
| 2018 | $27.70 | $35.51 | $22.98 | 4,240 |
| 2019 | $28.05 | $35.32 | $23.55 | 4,060 |
| 2020 | $29.13 | $36.24 | $23.93 | 4,050 |
| 2021 | $29.56 | $35.12 | $23.25 | 3,790 |
| 2022 | $30.46 | $33.51 | $24.73 | 3,880 |
| 2023 | $29.70 | $31.38 | $27.00 | 4,020 |
| 2024 | $30.56 | $31.36 | $28.23 | 3,880 |
| 2025 | $30.27 | $30.27 | $28.78 | 3,800 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in Wyoming changed by -15.0% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for heavy equipment operators in Wyoming
On federally funded construction in Wyoming, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 23 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $34.28). The market median for the state is $30.27.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Big Horn | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Campbell | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Carbon | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Converse | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Crook | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Fremont | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Goshen | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Hot Springs | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Johnson | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Laramie | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Lincoln | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Natrona | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Niobrara | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Park | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Platte | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Sheridan | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Sublette | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Sweetwater | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Teton | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Uinta | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Washakie | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
| Weston | state SAWY2026-001 2026-05-01 | $29.95 | $4.33 | $34.28 | WY20260041 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Wyoming prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Wyoming?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County | 221 | $90,675 | $1,744 |
| Campbell County | 1,297 | $79,784 | $1,534 |
| Uinta County | 219 | $77,969 | $1,499 |
| Weston County | 113 | $75,901 | $1,460 |
| Natrona County | 1,913 | $73,879 | $1,421 |
| Teton County | 1,531 | $72,070 | $1,386 |
| Sweetwater County | 800 | $71,916 | $1,383 |
| Laramie County | 2,520 | $70,715 | $1,360 |
| Sheridan County | 827 | $68,886 | $1,325 |
| Converse County | 198 | $67,083 | $1,290 |
| Platte County | 71 | $60,773 | $1,169 |
| Lincoln County | 559 | $59,215 | $1,139 |
| Albany County | 602 | $58,753 | $1,130 |
| Sublette County | 219 | $57,793 | $1,111 |
| Crook County | 119 | $56,875 | $1,094 |
| Washakie County | 132 | $56,052 | $1,078 |
| Park County | 591 | $53,754 | $1,034 |
| Fremont County | 482 | $52,045 | $1,001 |
| Big Horn County | 107 | $48,125 | $925 |
| Goshen County | 89 | $47,083 | $905 |
| Johnson County | 132 | $46,461 | $893 |
| Hot Springs County | — | — | — |
| Niobrara County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Wyoming
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in Wyoming?
The median heavy equipment operator in Wyoming earned $30.27 an hour ($62,960 a year) in May 2025, 5% above the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $26.14–$40.84; the top 10% earn more than $41.17.
Where does Wyoming rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
Wyoming ranks 18th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $30.27 an hour, and 18th after adjusting for Wyoming's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.7, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in Wyoming?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most Wyoming counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in Wyoming?
BLS counted 3,800 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Wyoming in May 2025, 13.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 4.40; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Wyoming 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.