How much does a heavy equipment operator make? Heavy Equipment Operator salary and hourly pay
A heavy equipment operator in the US earns a median of $59,850 a year, about $28.78 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,190 and the top 10% earn over $101,090. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Hawaii, has a median of $115,860.
Heavy Equipment Operator pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a heavy equipment operator make an hour?
The median heavy equipment operator earns $28.78 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $20.28 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48.60 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $42,190 | $20.28 |
| Lower 25% | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Median (typical) | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Upper 25% | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Top 10% | $101,090 | $48.60 |
Heavy Equipment Operator salary by state
Median annual pay for heavy equipment operators in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| Alaska | $77,810 | $37.41 |
| Arizona | $60,620 | $29.14 |
| Arkansas | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| California | $87,160 | $41.90 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | $30.11 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | $37.86 |
| Delaware | $58,020 | $27.89 |
| District of Columbia | $74,610 | $35.87 |
| Florida | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Georgia | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Hawaii | $115,860 | $55.70 |
| Idaho | $61,680 | $29.65 |
| Illinois | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| Indiana | $79,580 | $38.26 |
| Iowa | $60,330 | $29.00 |
| Kansas | $51,620 | $24.82 |
| Kentucky | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Louisiana | $51,700 | $24.86 |
| Maine | $56,140 | $26.99 |
| Maryland | $61,410 | $29.52 |
| Massachusetts | $76,820 | $36.93 |
| Michigan | $62,690 | $30.14 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 | $38.04 |
| Mississippi | $47,410 | $22.79 |
| Missouri | $60,540 | $29.11 |
| Montana | $61,580 | $29.61 |
| Nebraska | $58,360 | $28.06 |
| Nevada | $71,410 | $34.33 |
| New Hampshire | $62,200 | $29.90 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| New Mexico | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| New York | $80,980 | $38.93 |
| North Carolina | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| North Dakota | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| Ohio | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| Oklahoma | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| Oregon | $73,430 | $35.30 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| South Carolina | $48,940 | $23.53 |
| South Dakota | $59,500 | $28.61 |
| Tennessee | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Texas | $50,460 | $24.26 |
| Utah | $60,740 | $29.20 |
| Vermont | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| Virginia | $57,160 | $27.48 |
| Washington | $81,700 | $39.28 |
| West Virginia | $51,300 | $24.66 |
| Wisconsin | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| Wyoming | $62,960 | $30.27 |
Highest-paying states for heavy equipment operators
- Hawaii: $115,860 median
- Illinois: $97,740 median
- New Jersey: $89,660 median
- California: $87,160 median
- Washington: $81,700 median
The lowest medians are in Arkansas ($44,520), Mississippi ($47,410), Alabama ($47,520), Georgia ($47,880), Oklahoma ($47,970). The most heavy equipment operator jobs are in Texas (55,540 jobs), California (36,020 jobs), Florida (27,510 jobs), Pennsylvania (22,120 jobs), Ohio (16,920 jobs).
How much does a heavy equipment operator make a month?
At the median salary of $59,850, a heavy equipment operator earns about $4,988 a month, $2,302 every two weeks or $1,151 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced heavy equipment operator pay
New heavy equipment operators typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,190 a year and the lowest 25% under $48,680. The top 25% earn over $77,170 and the top 10% over $101,090. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Heavy Equipment Operator salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Heavy equipment operator | $59,850 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 |
| Lineman | $95,320 |
| Truck driver | $58,640 |
Common questions
How much does a heavy equipment operator make?
The US median is $59,850 a year ($28.78 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a heavy equipment operator make an hour?
The median is about $28.78 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $20.28 and the top 10% about $48.60 an hour.
Which state pays heavy equipment operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest median at $115,860, followed by Illinois ($97,740) and New Jersey ($89,660).
How much does a heavy equipment operator make a month?
At the US median of $59,850 a year, about $4,988 a month or $2,302 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level heavy equipment operator make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,190 a year and the lowest 25% under $48,680, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of heavy equipment operators make?
The top 10% earn over $101,090 a year; the top 25% earn over $77,170.
How much does a heavy equipment operator make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $87,160 in California, $50,460 in Texas, $49,400 in Florida, $80,980 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 47-2073, “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.