Heavy Equipment Operator Salary (2025)
Heavy Equipment · SOC Code 47-2073 · 3-year apprenticeship
National Salary Range
Heavy Equipment Operator salaries range from $48,744 to $71,868 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $71,868 | $42,694 – $108,929 | $47,282 | C | 9,532 |
| San Francisco, CA | $68,502 | $40,737 – $104,086 | $36,054 | D | 7,190 |
| New York, NY | $66,378 | $39,634 – $99,592 | $35,496 | D | 6,785 |
| Chicago, IL | $65,159 | $40,809 – $92,497 | $60,896 | C | 3,895 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $63,424 | $39,175 – $95,102 | $55,151 | C | 3,676 |
| Portland, OR | $63,231 | $37,673 – $95,572 | $48,639 | C | 4,720 |
| Seattle, WA | $62,914 | $37,781 – $89,217 | $42,224 | D | 4,394 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $62,639 | $38,791 – $92,559 | $59,093 | C | 5,179 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $61,813 | $39,574 – $87,012 | $37,237 | D | 7,248 |
| Houston, TX | $59,104 | $37,149 – $84,726 | $61,567 | C | 3,279 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $58,389 | $35,789 – $83,868 | $60,822 | C | 4,333 |
| Denver, CO | $57,828 | $36,809 – $82,002 | $45,178 | D | 5,494 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $57,330 | $34,274 – $86,213 | $55,125 | C | 5,893 |
| St. Louis, MO | $55,785 | $34,532 – $81,290 | $61,983 | C | 4,600 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $54,596 | $34,610 – $77,647 | $59,343 | C | 3,267 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $54,525 | $33,285 – $80,473 | $52,428 | C | 5,206 |
| Nashville, TN | $54,513 | $34,698 – $77,794 | $52,925 | C | 3,951 |
| Columbus, OH | $54,011 | $33,394 – $79,026 | $58,076 | C | 4,330 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $53,936 | $31,806 – $78,640 | $52,365 | C | 5,568 |
| Dallas, TX | $53,700 | $32,800 – $78,355 | $52,647 | C | 3,594 |
| Detroit, MI | $53,257 | $33,816 – $80,591 | $59,839 | C | 3,566 |
| San Antonio, TX | $53,210 | $33,692 – $80,847 | $59,122 | C | 3,354 |
| Kansas City, MO | $51,811 | $33,209 – $79,283 | $55,118 | C | 3,947 |
| Atlanta, GA | $51,250 | $31,327 – $75,761 | $48,349 | C | 4,691 |
| Miami, FL | $51,055 | $30,329 – $75,277 | $41,848 | D | 5,447 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $50,930 | $32,021 – $77,924 | $55,967 | C | 2,828 |
| Charlotte, NC | $50,422 | $32,708 – $75,675 | $51,451 | C | 4,175 |
| Tampa, FL | $49,954 | $31,379 – $77,353 | $49,459 | C | 5,412 |
| Raleigh, NC | $49,246 | $29,632 – $75,650 | $49,246 | C | 4,278 |
| New Orleans, LA | $48,744 | $31,247 – $74,406 | $51,309 | C | 3,599 |
About Heavy Equipment Operator Pay
Heavy Equipment Operators earn a national median salary of $56,984 based on 2025 BLS data. The highest-paying city for this trade is Boston at $71,868 median, while New Orleans offers the lowest at $48,744.
Becoming a heavy equipment operator typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $42,694, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $108,929 or more. With 8% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.