Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in Minnesota

Heavy Equipment Operators in Minnesota have a median annual salary of $79,130, which works out to about $38.04 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $63,310 to $95,740, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

47-2073 · Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Heavy Equipment Operator pay in Minnesota at a glance

Median annual salary

$79,130

Median hourly wage

$38.04/hr

Average annual salary

$79,070

Average hourly wage

$38.01/hr

25th percentile

$63,310

75th percentile

$95,740

10th percentile

$55,960

90th percentile

$101,930

People employed

8,590

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid heavy equipment operator roles in Minnesota.

10th percentile
$55,960
25th percentile
$63,310
Median percentile
$79,130
75th percentile
$95,740
90th percentile
$101,930

Minnesota vs U.S. salary

The median salary for heavy equipment operator roles in Minnesota is about 32.2% above the U.S. median of $59,850 for the same occupation.

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How much does a heavy equipment operator make in Minnesota?

Half of heavy equipment operator roles in Minnesota report earning more than $79,130 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $79,070 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $63,310 and a quarter are above $95,740, so most heavy equipment operator pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect heavy equipment operator pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Heavy Equipment Operator pay in other states

Related jobs in Minnesota

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.