Salaries › Heavy Equipment Operator › North Carolina
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$23.71 per hour · take-home ≈ $40,342/year ($3,362/month) for a single filer
Heavy Equipment Operator pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,050 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $45,700 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $49,310 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $57,870 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $64,450 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 16,580 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 47-2073, “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Heavy Equipment Operator salary of $49,310 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $40,342 — an effective tax rate of 18.2%.
| Gross (median) | $49,310 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,737 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,772 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$1,459 |
| Take-home (annual) | $40,342 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,362 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Heavy Equipment Operator make in North Carolina?
- The median Heavy Equipment Operator salary in North Carolina is $49,310 per year ($23.71 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $45,700 and $57,870.
- What is the take-home pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $49,310, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $40,342 per year ($3,362 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.2%.
- How many Heavy Equipment Operator jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 16,580 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Heavy Equipment Operators
Other salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.