Highest-Paid Heavy Equipment Operators By State [2022] - Zippia

Heavy Equipment Operator Salary By State: Highest-Paid Heavy Equipment Operators by State [2026] By Chris Kolmar Mar. 20, 2024 Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 10, 2026 Heavy Equipment Operator Resources

• Table Of Contents
  • Salary By State
  • Overview
  • Jobs
  • Salary
  • Resume
  • Skills
  • What They Do
  • Education
  • Certifications
  • Demographics
  • Best States

Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the updated details on heavy equipment operator salaries by state across the United States for 2026:

• New Jersey boasts the highest average salary for heavy equipment operators at $65,211.

• Arkansas has the lowest average salary for heavy equipment operators at $25,958.

• The national average salary for heavy equipment operators is $39,822.

• The national hourly wage for heavy equipment operators is $19.15.

You can read more on the specific methodology.

Background

Salary remains the top priority for job seekers across various demographics, making it essential for heavy equipment operators to understand what they can expect to earn in their respective states.

While local salaries may vary slightly from state averages, these figures provide a solid benchmark for what heavy equipment operators can anticipate in terms of compensation.

Currently, New Jersey leads the pack in terms of salaries for heavy equipment operators.

Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for heavy equipment operator salaries in 2026:

1. New Jersey (Jobs)

2. Washington (Jobs)

3. California (Jobs)

4. New Hampshire (Jobs)

5. Alaska (Jobs)

6. Massachusetts (Jobs)

7. Illinois (Jobs)

8. North Dakota (Jobs)

9. New York (Jobs)

10. Oregon (Jobs)

Let’s delve into how these salaries were determined and see the complete ranking of all states.

Highest-Paid Heavy Equipment Operators By State

Rank	State	Average Heavy Equipment Operator Salary	10th Percentile	90th Percentile
1	New Jersey	$65,211	$43,000	$96,000
2	Washington	$58,830	$41,000	$82,000
3	California	$57,498	$39,000	$84,000
4	New Hampshire	$57,250	$40,000	$80,000
5	Alaska	$56,247	$46,000	$67,000
6	Massachusetts	$54,329	$38,000	$77,000
7	Illinois	$52,233	$36,000	$75,000
8	North Dakota	$51,288	$37,000	$70,000
9	New York	$51,047	$34,000	$75,000
10	Oregon	$50,964	$35,000	$72,000
11	Minnesota	$50,104	$35,000	$70,000
12	Wisconsin	$49,958	$34,000	$71,000
13	Vermont	$49,342	$35,000	$68,000
14	Nevada	$48,561	$33,000	$70,000
15	Mississippi	$46,520	$32,000	$66,000
16	Pennsylvania	$46,137	$30,000	$69,000
17	Montana	$45,922	$33,000	$63,000
18	Idaho	$45,143	$31,000	$63,000
19	Connecticut	$44,984	$30,000	$65,000
20	Wyoming	$44,821	$32,000	$62,000
21	Colorado	$43,289	$30,000	$61,000
22	Indiana	$42,319	$29,000	$61,000
23	Ohio	$42,093	$28,000	$62,000
24	Delaware	$42,060	$28,000	$63,000
25	Utah	$41,165	$29,000	$58,000
26	Maryland	$40,748	$27,000	$61,000
27	Virginia	$40,694	$27,000	$60,000
28	South Dakota	$40,681	$29,000	$57,000
29	Hawaii	$40,650	$34,000	$47,000
30	Rhode Island	$39,917	$27,000	$57,000
31	Nebraska	$39,893	$28,000	$56,000
32	Michigan	$39,531	$27,000	$57,000
33	Arizona	$39,291	$27,000	$56,000
34	Missouri	$39,218	$27,000	$55,000
35	Iowa	$38,681	$27,000	$55,000
36	Kansas	$36,970	$25,000	$52,000
37	West Virginia	$36,871	$24,000	$54,000
38	New Mexico	$36,342	$25,000	$52,000
39	Kentucky	$35,209	$24,000	$50,000
40	Texas	$34,692	$23,000	$50,000
41	Oklahoma	$34,314	$23,000	$49,000
42	Tennessee	$34,130	$23,000	$48,000
43	North Carolina	$33,252	$23,000	$47,000
44	Louisiana	$32,707	$22,000	$47,000
45	Florida	$31,569	$22,000	$44,000
46	Maine	$31,345	$23,000	$42,000
47	South Carolina	$30,687	$21,000	$43,000
48	Georgia	$30,208	$21,000	$42,000
49	Alabama	$30,154	$21,000	$42,000
50	Arkansas	$25,958	$18,000	$37,000

Methodology: Heavy Equipment Operator Salary By State

To provide insights into heavy equipment operator salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is further enhanced by real-time salaries from job postings. The data science team then computes a weighted average to derive the average pay for heavy equipment operators state by state.

The average annual salary data for heavy equipment operators has been ranked, with the highest-paid state leading the list.

Heavy Equipment Operator Salary By State FAQs

1. What is the highest-paid state for heavy equipment operators?

   The highest-paid state for heavy equipment operators is New Jersey, with an average salary of $65,211 per year.

2. What city pays heavy equipment operators the most?

   Trenton, NJ offers the most competitive salary for heavy equipment operators, averaging $65,145 per year.

3. What is the worst state for heavy equipment operators?

   The state with the lowest average salary for heavy equipment operators is Arkansas, at $25,958 per year.

Heavy Equipment Operator Resources

• Table Of Contents
  • Salary By State
  • Overview
  • Jobs
  • Salary
  • Resume
  • Skills
  • What They Do
  • Education
  • Certifications
  • Demographics
  • Best States

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Create Resume

Related posts

• 

  These Are The 10 Best States For Dialysis Technicians

• 

  5 Best Startups to Work For in Little Rock

• 

  Highest Paying Jobs At IDEXX: Top IDEXX Salaries [2026]

• 

  Technical Support Technician Salary By State: Highest-Paid Technical Support Technicians by State [2026]

• Zippia >
• Career Advice >
• Rankings >
• Heavy Equipment Operator Salary By State