Salaries › Heavy Equipment Operator › Tennessee
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$25.00 per hour · take-home ≈ $43,962/year ($3,664/month) for a single filer
Heavy Equipment Operator pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $41,600 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,490 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $52,000 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $59,360 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $75,430 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 10,660 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 47-2073, “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Heavy Equipment Operator salary of $52,000 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $43,962 — an effective tax rate of 15.5%.
| Gross (median) | $52,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,060 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,978 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $43,962 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,664 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Heavy Equipment Operator make in Tennessee?
- The median Heavy Equipment Operator salary in Tennessee is $52,000 per year ($25.00 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,490 and $59,360.
- What is the take-home pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $52,000, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $43,962 per year ($3,664 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 15.5%.
- How many Heavy Equipment Operator jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 10,660 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Heavy Equipment Operators
Other salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.