Heavy Equipment Operator Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$59,000
national median salary
$48,000 to $76,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $59,850 for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) across the United States, based on 478,090 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$42,190
25th percentile
$48,680
Median
$59,850
75th percentile
$77,170
90th percentile
$101,090
Workers surveyed
478,090
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$58,710
May 2025 release
$59,850
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) rather than Heavy Equipment Operatorspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 47-2073Highest Paying
$80,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$62,000
Jersey City, NJ
Lowest Paying
$44,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 47-2073. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Heavy Equipment Operator salary in the United States at $59,000 in 2026, within a range of $48,000 to $76,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $80,000, while Jersey City offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Operators skilled on multiple machine types like cranes, excavators, and dozers earn 15 to 20% more than single-machine specialists.
Heavy Equipment Operator salary by city.
Skills that increase Heavy Equipment Operator pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Heavy Equipment Operators based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,260 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,260 per year
≈ +$7,670 per year
≈ +$7,080 per year
≈ +$6,490 per year
≈ +$6,490 per year
≈ +$5,900 per year
≈ +$5,900 per year
≈ +$5,310 per year
What you should know.
Operators skilled on multiple machine types like cranes, excavators, and dozers earn 15 to 20% more than single-machine specialists. Highway and bridge construction projects pay the highest rates due to prevailing wage requirements. Crane operators, especially those with NCCCO certification for tower or mobile hydraulic cranes, consistently top the pay scale.
Trainee operators start at $32,000 to $40,000, advancing to certified operator at $44,000 to $60,000 within two to three years. Senior operators on specialized equipment earn $62,000 to $80,000, while heavy equipment supervisors and fleet managers reach $78,000 to $105,000.
Union operators receive health, pension, and training benefits worth $15,000 to $22,000 annually. Prevailing wage projects can boost hourly rates 20 to 40% above base. Per diem payments of $50 to $100 daily are common on travel-based pipeline or infrastructure jobs.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Heavy Equipment Operators typically earn $52,000 (12% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Heavy Equipment Operator pay.
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