Salaries › Heavy Equipment Operator › Colorado
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in Colorado (2026)
$30.11 per hour · take-home ≈ $50,448/year ($4,204/month) for a single filer
Heavy Equipment Operator pay range in Colorado
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $49,480 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $57,700 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $62,620 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $73,670 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $78,870 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,700 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Colorado (occupation code 47-2073, “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Colorado
A median Heavy Equipment Operator salary of $62,620 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Colorado state income tax, a single filer keeps about $50,448 — an effective tax rate of 19.4%.
| Gross (median) | $62,620 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,334 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,790 |
| Colorado state income tax | −$2,047 |
| Take-home (annual) | $50,448 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,204 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Colorado paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Heavy Equipment Operator make in Colorado?
- The median Heavy Equipment Operator salary in Colorado is $62,620 per year ($30.11 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $57,700 and $73,670.
- What is the take-home pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator in Colorado?
- On the median salary of $62,620, a single filer in Colorado takes home about $50,448 per year ($4,204 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.4%.
- How many Heavy Equipment Operator jobs are there in Colorado?
- BLS counts 11,700 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Colorado in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Heavy Equipment Operators
Other salaries in Colorado
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Colorado state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Colorado.