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Heavy Equipment Operator Salary by State (2026)
Heavy Equipment Operators (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators) hold 478,080 jobs across the US. Typical pay is $62,965 per year, but the median ranges from $44,520 in Arkansas to $115,860 in Hawaii. Pick your state for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Heavy Equipment Operator salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| Hawaii | $115,860 | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $97,740 | 12,290 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | 5,980 |
| California | $87,160 | 36,020 |
| Washington | $81,700 | 10,290 |
| New York | $80,980 | 14,490 |
| Indiana | $79,580 | 11,520 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 | 8,590 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | 2,860 |
| Alaska | $77,810 | 3,050 |
| Massachusetts | $76,820 | 9,680 |
| Wisconsin | $75,280 | 8,140 |
| District of Columbia | $74,610 | 620 |
| Oregon | $73,430 | 5,630 |
| Nevada | $71,410 | 5,410 |
| Ohio | $64,940 | 16,920 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | 970 |
| Wyoming | $62,960 | 3,800 |
| Michigan | $62,690 | 9,500 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | 11,700 |
| New Hampshire | $62,200 | 1,330 |
| North Dakota | $62,150 | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $61,680 | 4,270 |
| Montana | $61,580 | 3,750 |
| Maryland | $61,410 | 6,610 |
| Utah | $60,740 | 7,880 |
| Arizona | $60,620 | 13,200 |
| Missouri | $60,540 | 10,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,530 | 22,120 |
| Iowa | $60,330 | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $59,500 | 2,050 |
| Vermont | $58,870 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $58,360 | 3,180 |
| Delaware | $58,020 | 1,230 |
| Kentucky | $57,780 | 7,050 |
| Virginia | $57,160 | 12,100 |
| Maine | $56,140 | 2,210 |
| New Mexico | $52,000 | 5,520 |
| Tennessee | $52,000 | 10,660 |
| Louisiana | $51,700 | 7,860 |
| Kansas | $51,620 | 7,070 |
| West Virginia | $51,300 | 7,830 |
| Texas | $50,460 | 55,540 |
| Florida | $49,400 | 27,510 |
| North Carolina | $49,310 | 16,580 |
| South Carolina | $48,940 | 8,160 |
| Oklahoma | $47,970 | 7,050 |
| Georgia | $47,880 | 15,700 |
| Alabama | $47,520 | 9,640 |
| Mississippi | $47,410 | 4,170 |
| Arkansas | $44,520 | 5,800 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average Heavy Equipment Operator salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Heavy Equipment Operator salary in the US is about $62,965 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 478,080 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Heavy Equipment Operators the most?
- Hawaii has the highest median Heavy Equipment Operator salary at $115,860 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Heavy Equipment Operators the least?
- Arkansas has the lowest median at $44,520 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, code 47-2073). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.