Heavy equipment operator salary

Heavy equipment operators in the U.S. earn a median $59,850 a year.

Median pay
$59,850
Median hourly
$28.78
Typical range
$42,190–$101,090
Jobs
478,090

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for heavy equipment operators in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$42,190
25th$48,680
Median$59,850
75th$77,170
90th (top earners)$101,090

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$51,04014,000
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$51,37011,510
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$95,05011,430
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$92,8908,780
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$49,4308,360
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$62,5407,980
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$103,1007,930
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$61,6606,450
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$76,9406,370
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$51,8005,850

Heavy equipment operator salary by state

  1. 1Hawaii$115,860
  2. 2Illinois$97,740
  3. 3New Jersey$89,660
  4. 4California$87,160
  5. 5Washington$81,700
  6. 6New York$80,980
  7. 7Indiana$79,580
  8. 8Minnesota$79,130
  9. 9Connecticut$78,750
  10. 10Alaska$77,810
  11. 11Massachusetts$76,820
  12. 12Wisconsin$75,280
  13. –District of Columbia$74,610
  14. 13Oregon$73,430
  15. 14Nevada$71,410
  16. 15Ohio$64,940
  17. 16Rhode Island$63,610
  18. 17Wyoming$62,960
  19. 18Michigan$62,690
  20. 19Colorado$62,620
  21. 20New Hampshire$62,200
  22. 21North Dakota$62,150
  23. 22Idaho$61,680
  24. 23Montana$61,580
  25. 24Maryland$61,410
  26. 25Utah$60,740
  27. 26Arizona$60,620
  28. 27Missouri$60,540
  29. 28Pennsylvania$60,530
  30. 29Iowa$60,330
  31. 30South Dakota$59,500
  32. 31Vermont$58,870
  33. 32Nebraska$58,360
  34. 33Delaware$58,020
  35. 34Kentucky$57,780
  36. 35Virginia$57,160
  37. 36Maine$56,140
  38. 37New Mexico$52,000
  39. 38Tennessee$52,000
  40. 39Louisiana$51,700
  41. 40Kansas$51,620
  42. 41West Virginia$51,300
  43. 42Texas$50,460
  44. 43Florida$49,400
  45. 44North Carolina$49,310
  46. 45South Carolina$48,940
  47. 46Oklahoma$47,970
  48. 47Georgia$47,880
  49. 48Alabama$47,520
  50. 49Mississippi$47,410
  51. 50Arkansas$44,520
  52. –Puerto Rico$29,810

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Heavy equipment operator schoolsHow to become a heavy equipment operator

Frequently asked questions

How much do heavy equipment operators make?

The median pay for heavy equipment operators in the U.S. is $59,850 a year ($28.78 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,190, and the top 10% earn over $101,090.

Which states pay heavy equipment operators the most?

The top-paying states are Hawaii ($115,860), Illinois ($97,740), New Jersey ($89,660), California ($87,160), Washington ($81,700).

How can a heavy equipment operator earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a heavy equipment operator covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, SOC 47-2073). Figures exclude self-employed workers.