How Much Does a Heavy Equipment Operator Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$59,850
Heavy equipment operators in the U.S. earn a median of $59,850 a year, or $28.78 an hour. Half of heavy equipment operators earn more than $59,850 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $101,090.
Pay percentiles for heavy equipment operators
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20.28 | $42,190 |
| 25th | $23.40 | $48,680 |
| 50th (median) | $28.78 | $59,850 |
| 75th | $37.10 | $77,170 |
| 90th | $48.60 | $101,090 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for heavy equipment operators
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 | $55.70 | +94% |
| Illinois | $97,740 | $46.99 | +63% |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | $43.11 | +50% |
| California | $87,160 | $41.90 | +46% |
| Washington | $81,700 | $39.28 | +37% |
| New York | $80,980 | $38.94 | +35% |
| Indiana | $79,580 | $38.26 | +33% |
| Minnesota | $79,130 | $38.04 | +32% |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | $37.86 | +32% |
| Alaska | $77,810 | $37.41 | +30% |
| United States | $59,850 | $28.78 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many heavy equipment operators are there?
BLS counts about 478,090 heavy equipment operators employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”. The most jobs are in Texas (55,540), California (36,020) and Florida (27,510).
The mean (average) annual wage is $66,290, higher than the median of $59,850.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,988
- Biweekly
- $2,302
- Weekly
- $1,151
- Daily (8 hours)
- $230
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do heavy equipment operators make an hour?
The median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators is $28.78. The middle 50% earn between $23.40 and $37.10 an hour.
Which state pays heavy equipment operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage for heavy equipment operators at $115,860, +94% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for heavy equipment operators?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of heavy equipment operators earn less than $42,190 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.