The median heavy equipment operator in the U.S. earns $59,850 a year ($28.77 an hour). Half earn between $48,680 and $77,170. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in San Francisco, CA ($124,750) and lowest in Oklahoma City, OK ($48,690).
Median $59,850
10th: $42,19090th: $101,090
Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, May 2025.
Annual pay
U.S.
10th percentile
$42,190
25th percentile
$48,680
Median
$59,850
75th percentile
$77,170
90th percentile
$101,090
Average
$66,290
Jobs
478,090
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.