Heavy Equipment Operator Salary By State: Salary by State (Hourly + Annual)
Trade Industry Insights / Heavy Equipment Operator Salary By State
Quick Answer: How Much Do Heavy Equipment Operators Make?
Heavy equipment operator pay varies by state, project type (roadwork, utilities, grading, excavation), and how much seat time you actually get. The biggest pay jumps usually come from being trusted on higher-risk machines (excavator/dozer/grader) and producing clean grade without rework.
This page shows hourly and annual estimates by state so you can compare typical operator pay where you live. Use the top 10 chart for context, then the full table to compare your state against nearby markets.
- Biggest pay drivers: verified seat time, grade awareness, trench/utility safety, and ability to work efficiently around crews.
- Where pay is often highest: infrastructure-heavy regions, strong civil markets, and states with consistent large projects.
- Reality check: running a skid steer and running finish grade on a dozer/grader are different skill tiers—and pay reflects that.
- Best next step: Jump to Heavy Equipment Operator Salaries by State and compare your state to the top 10.
- Want the full career path? How to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator
Heavy Equipment Operator Salaries by State
Heavy Equipment Operator pay can vary a lot depending on where you live. Use this state-by-state breakdown to compare average hourly wage, weekly pay, monthly income, and annual salary for heavy equipment operators across the United States.
Salary estimates are based on aggregated data from publicly available wage sources, including state-level labor datasets, employer-reported estimates, and trade industry compensation data. Primary sources include the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), State Labor Departments, and union wage scales and collective bargaining agreements (where available). Data reflects the most recently available wage releases at the time of publication.
How these Heavy Equipment Operator salary estimates are calculated: Hourly wage figures are based on the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the trade, supplemented with state labor department wage data and published union wage scales where available. Weekly pay assumes a standard 40-hour work week. Annual salary estimates are calculated using 2,080 work hours per year, and monthly pay is derived by dividing the annual estimate by 12. These figures represent typical earnings and may vary based on experience level, system specialization, overtime, seasonality, and regional demand.
Top 10 Highest Paying States for Heavy Equipment Operators (Hourly)
Complete Heavy Equipment Operator Salary Table by State
| State | Hourly Wage | Weekly Pay | Monthly Pay | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $28.86 | $1,123 | $4,860 | $58,318 |
| New York | $27.95 | $1,115 | $4,835 | $58,016 |
| Massachusetts | $27.90 | $1,113 | $4,825 | $57,896 |
| Alaska | $27.54 | $1,096 | $4,750 | $56,999 |
| Vermont | $27.22 | $1,080 | $4,678 | $56,138 |
| North Dakota | $27.09 | $1,073 | $4,648 | $55,777 |
| Oregon | $27.07 | $1,072 | $4,643 | $55,718 |
| Colorado | $26.94 | $1,064 | $4,612 | $55,347 |
| Hawaii | $26.64 | $1,054 | $4,555 | $54,654 |
| Nevada | $26.15 | $1,032 | $4,464 | $53,572 |
| New Jersey | $26.08 | $1,027 | $4,446 | $53,358 |
| Wisconsin | $25.94 | $1,020 | $4,418 | $53,013 |
| Pennsylvania | $25.77 | $1,011 | $4,380 | $52,561 |
| Delaware | $25.74 | $1,009 | $4,371 | $52,453 |
| South Dakota | $25.72 | $1,008 | $4,365 | $52,376 |
| Virginia | $25.51 | $999 | $4,327 | $51,927 |
| California | $25.41 | $994 | $4,306 | $51,676 |
| Minnesota | $25.23 | $986 | $4,273 | $51,278 |
| Rhode Island | $25.23 | $986 | $4,273 | $51,278 |
| New Hampshire | $25.06 | $977 | $4,236 | $50,836 |
| Maryland | $25.02 | $975 | $4,228 | $50,736 |
| New Mexico | $24.98 | $974 | $4,221 | $50,648 |
| Illinois | $24.98 | $974 | $4,221 | $50,648 |
| Maine | $24.96 | $973 | $4,217 | $50,602 |
| Wyoming | $24.80 | $966 | $4,183 | $50,194 |
| Nebraska | $24.61 | $957 | $4,143 | $49,711 |
| Indiana | $24.57 | $956 | $4,134 | $49,606 |
| Connecticut | $24.56 | $955 | $4,132 | $49,580 |
| Ohio | $24.55 | $955 | $4,111 | $49,534 |
| Mississippi | $24.46 | $949 | $4,109 | $49,312 |
| Idaho | $24.31 | $942 | $4,076 | $48,918 |
| Iowa | $24.28 | $938 | $4,067 | $48,804 |
| Missouri | $24.25 | $937 | $4,061 | $48,736 |
| Arizona | $24.10 | $933 | $4,043 | $48,520 |
| Texas | $24.10 | $933 | $4,041 | $48,496 |
| South Carolina | $24.01 | $929 | $4,024 | $48,299 |
| Oklahoma | $23.90 | $925 | $4,006 | $48,076 |
| Montana | $23.77 | $919 | $3,980 | $47,766 |
| Utah | $23.59 | $912 | $3,949 | $47,393 |
| North Carolina | $23.55 | $911 | $3,943 | $47,316 |
| Tennessee | $23.52 | $910 | $3,937 | $47,240 |
| Alabama | $23.50 | $908 | $3,930 | $47,162 |
| Kansas | $23.15 | $892 | $3,866 | $46,386 |
| Michigan | $22.67 | $870 | $3,769 | $45,227 |
| Kentucky | $22.60 | $866 | $3,754 | $45,048 |
| Louisiana | $22.28 | $853 | $3,698 | $44,371 |
| Georgia | $22.03 | $840 | $3,643 | $43,711 |
| Arkansas | $21.61 | $825 | $3,573 | $42,874 |
| West Virginia | $20.36 | $773 | $3,351 | $40,214 |
| Florida | $19.72 | $746 | $3,231 | $38,776 |
What to Do Next
- Plan your path from training to jobsite experience: How to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator
- Compare wages, benefits, and project types: Union vs Non-Union Heavy Equipment Operator Careers
- Find operator programs and apprenticeships near you: Trade Schools & Apprenticeships Near Me
