Average Heavy Equipment Operator Hourly Pay - Payscale

United StatesJobHeavy Equipment OperatorAverage Heavy Equipment Operator Hourly PayPayJob DetailsSkillsJob ListingsEmployersHow should I pay?Price a JobWhat am I worth?Find market worth$24.73/ hourAvg. Base Hourly Rate (USD)10%$17.94MEDIAN$24.7390%$37.50

The average hourly pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator is $24.73 in 2026

Hourly Rate$18 - $38Bonus$293 - $6kProfit Sharing$110 - $10kTotal Pay$38k - $80kBased on 2,762 salary profiles (last updated Jan 30 2026)Is Average Heavy Equipment Operator Hourly Pay your job title? Find out what you should be paidUse our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?Location:United States (change)Years in Field/Career:How it works:1Enter city & years of experience2Add pay factors like skills & education3Find your market worth with a report tailored to youEXPLORE BY:CityAtlanta, GAPhoenix, AZCharlotte, NCOrlando, FLSacramento, CAHouston, TXRaleigh, NCBoston, MASan Antonio, TXPortland, ORSee All CitiesDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »ExperienceEntry LevelEarly CareerMid CareerExperiencedLate CareerDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »SkillHeavy Equipment OperationEquipment MaintenanceMachine OperationSafety ComplianceBlueprintsHeavy Equipment RepairGlobal Positioning Systems (GPS)Operations ManagementForklift CertifiedOSHA ComplianceSee All SkillsDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »EmployerWaste Management, Inc.Vulcan Materials CoRepublic Services IncU.S. ArmyMartin Marietta Materials IncBrad Cole ConstructionWaste Connections, Inc.Knife River Corp.U.S. Marine CorpsThe Shelly CompanySee All EmployersDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »JobOperations ManagerProject Manager, (Unspecified Type / General)Maintenance TechnicianDirector of OperationsRetail Store ManagerOperations SupervisorExecutive DirectorHeavy / Tractor-Trailer Truck DriverProject EngineerProduction SupervisorDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »

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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Heavy Equipment Operators?

Entry Level▼29%Early Career▼11%Mid Career▼1%Late Career▲4%Experienced▲16%

An entry-level Heavy Equipment Operator with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $17.66 based on 90 salaries. An early career Heavy Equipment Operator with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $22.06 based on 701 …Read more

What Do Heavy Equipment Operators Do?

A heavy equipment operator is a construction worker who is specifically tasked with the safe and efficient operations of heavy machinery, such as loaders, dump trucks, backhoes, and graders. The heavy equipment operator ensures that the machinery he or she is about to use is in good working order, and then follows all relevant procedures and protocols while using it. The operator may be asked to provide input into the way some equipment is used on a site, and is required to report any noticed …Read more

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How do Heavy Equipment Operators Rate Their Jobs?

3.6 out of 5(195)Highly Satisfied140ReviewsBased on 195 responses, the job of Heavy Equipment Operator has received a job satisfaction rating of 3.62 out of 5. On average, Heavy Equipment Operators are highly satisfied with their job. See all reviews

Common Health Benefits for a Heavy Equipment Operator

Medical67%Dental58%Vision52%None32%

Gender Breakdown for Heavy Equipment Operators

Male96.6%Female3.1%Prefer to self-define0.2%This data is based on 614 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.

FAQs About Heavy Equipment Operators

What is the highest pay for Heavy Equipment Operators?

Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator is $37.50 / hour

What is the lowest pay for Heavy Equipment Operators?

Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator is $17.94 / hour

How can Heavy Equipment Operators increase their salary?

Increasing your pay as a Heavy Equipment Operator is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Heavy Equipment Operator that oversees more junior Heavy Equipment Operators, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.

WHAT AM I WORTH?What your skills are worth in the job market is constantly changing.Job Title:Location:United States (change)