Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in United States

Half of heavy equipment operator roles in United States report earning more than $59,850 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $66,290 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 $48,680 and a quarter are above $77,170, 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