Salaries › Heavy Equipment Operator › Kentucky
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$27.78 per hour · take-home ≈ $46,584/year ($3,882/month) for a single filer
Heavy Equipment Operator pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $44,620 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $49,040 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $57,780 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $65,720 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $80,890 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,050 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 47-2073, “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Heavy Equipment Operator salary of $57,780 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $46,584 — an effective tax rate of 19.4%.
| Gross (median) | $57,780 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,754 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,420 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$2,022 |
| Take-home (annual) | $46,584 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,882 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Heavy Equipment Operator make in Kentucky?
- The median Heavy Equipment Operator salary in Kentucky is $57,780 per year ($27.78 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $49,040 and $65,720.
- What is the take-home pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $57,780, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $46,584 per year ($3,882 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 Kentucky?
- BLS counts 7,050 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Heavy Equipment Operators
Other salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.