392 metro areas
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary by City (2026)
Heavy equipment operators earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $111,400 a year, against $66,290 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Decatur, IL ($103,830 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $66,290BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $111,400San Jose, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $103,830Decatur, IL
- Metro areas
- 392With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for heavy equipment operators
Top 10 metro areas
- San Jose, CA$111,400
- San Francisco, CA$110,300
- Kahului, HI$106,970
- Urban Honolulu, HI$104,000
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,710
- New York, NY-NJ$100,710
- Vallejo, CA$97,740
- Seattle, WA$96,510
- Chicago, IL-IN$96,370
- Modesto, CA$95,910
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $111,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,300 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $106,970 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $104,000 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $101,710 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,710 |
| Vallejo, CA | $97,740 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $96,510 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $96,370 |
| Modesto, CA | $95,910 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Decatur, IL$91,810 nominal$103,830
- San Jose, CA$111,400 nominal$100,880
- Kahului, HI$106,970 nominal$97,790
- Rockford, IL$89,540 nominal$97,160
- San Francisco, CA$110,300 nominal$95,400
- Waterloo, IA$82,640 nominal$94,930
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,710 nominal$94,360
- Kankakee, IL$90,900 nominal$94,300
- Bloomington, IL$88,190 nominal$94,280
- Urban Honolulu, HI$104,000 nominal$93,730
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Decatur, IL | $103,830 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $100,880 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $97,790 |
| Rockford, IL | $97,160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95,400 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $94,930 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $94,360 |
| Kankakee, IL | $94,300 |
| Bloomington, IL | $94,280 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $93,730 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Heavy Equipment Operator salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $111,400 | $69,310 | $132,120 | $100,880 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $110,300 | $69,890 | $130,210 | $95,400 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $106,970 | $67,250 | $126,550 | $97,790 |
| 4 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $104,000 | $71,410 | $120,080 | $93,730 |
| 5 | Santa Rosa, CA | $101,710 | $63,710 | $120,430 | $94,360 |
| 6 | New York, NY-NJ | $100,710 | $61,070 | $120,240 | $89,470 |
| 7 | Vallejo, CA | $97,740 | $63,190 | $114,770 | $90,100 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $96,510 | $64,810 | $112,130 | $86,840 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL-IN | $96,370 | $64,540 | $112,050 | $93,030 |
| 10 | Modesto, CA | $95,910 | $58,180 | $114,500 | $92,130 |
| 11 | Bellingham, WA | $95,700 | $67,250 | $109,720 | $92,610 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $95,640 | $62,250 | $112,090 | $89,660 |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $94,200 | $57,720 | $112,170 | $82,950 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $94,160 | $60,150 | $110,910 | $84,160 |
| 15 | Mount Vernon, WA | $93,950 | $63,750 | $108,850 | $91,710 |
| 16 | Oxnard, CA | $92,960 | $59,610 | $109,370 | $84,100 |
| 17 | Olympia, WA | $92,770 | $60,820 | $108,510 | $89,490 |
| 18 | Napa, CA | $92,040 | $55,640 | $109,970 | $81,770 |
| 19 | Yuba City, CA | $91,890 | $57,640 | $108,780 | $88,160 |
| 20 | Decatur, IL | $91,810 | $61,360 | $106,810 | $103,830 |
| 21 | Kankakee, IL | $90,900 | $62,250 | $105,000 | $94,300 |
| 22 | Salinas, CA | $90,360 | $60,030 | $105,290 | $82,870 |
| 23 | Chico, CA | $89,690 | $55,830 | $106,370 | $88,630 |
| 24 | Rockford, IL | $89,540 | $61,300 | $103,460 | $97,160 |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $89,150 | $55,720 | $105,620 | $87,270 |
| 26 | Bloomington, IL | $88,190 | $66,000 | $99,110 | $94,280 |
| 27 | Wenatchee, WA | $88,070 | $60,240 | $101,770 | $84,800 |
| 28 | Bridgeport, CT | $88,050 | $64,540 | $99,630 | $82,390 |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $88,000 | $55,450 | $104,020 | $83,740 |
| 30 | Albany, NY | $87,960 | $55,100 | $104,150 | $88,340 |
| 31 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $87,920 | $58,070 | $102,630 | $80,960 |
| 32 | Vineland, NJ | $87,460 | $51,750 | $105,040 | $91,130 |
| 33 | Redding, CA | $87,050 | $57,700 | $101,500 | $86,460 |
| 34 | Riverside, CA | $86,920 | $54,390 | $102,940 | $81,660 |
| 35 | Kennewick, WA | $86,880 | $61,940 | $99,150 | $86,810 |
| 36 | Santa Maria, CA | $86,610 | $57,720 | $100,860 | $79,610 |
| 37 | Bakersfield, CA | $86,130 | $55,660 | $101,150 | $85,370 |
| 38 | Atlantic City, NJ | $85,990 | $53,520 | $101,960 | $86,980 |
| 39 | Boston, MA-NH | $85,970 | $57,660 | $99,900 | $79,410 |
| 40 | Portland, OR-WA | $85,450 | $60,650 | $97,660 | $81,060 |
| 41 | Champaign, IL | $85,380 | $57,950 | $98,880 | $92,100 |
| 42 | New Haven, CT | $85,070 | $62,630 | $96,120 | $81,360 |
| 43 | Bremerton, WA | $84,970 | $59,800 | $97,340 | $80,460 |
| 44 | Michigan City, IN | $84,430 | $57,370 | $97,740 | $92,090 |
| 45 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $84,200 | $62,880 | $94,700 | $80,330 |
| 46 | Worcester, MA | $83,990 | $53,750 | $98,880 | $81,920 |
| 47 | Springfield, IL | $83,780 | $52,620 | $99,150 | $90,330 |
| 48 | Merced, CA | $83,720 | $53,930 | $98,400 | $85,190 |
| 49 | Santa Cruz, CA | $83,510 | $56,410 | $96,870 | $75,990 |
| 50 | Fairbanks, AK | $83,390 | $67,160 | $91,350 | $80,800 |
| 51 | Waterbury, CT | $83,390 | $60,110 | $94,850 | $83,580 |
| 52 | Hartford, CT | $83,160 | $59,470 | $94,810 | $80,940 |
| 53 | Racine, WI | $83,120 | $63,440 | $92,790 | $86,620 |
| 54 | Madison, WI | $82,780 | $59,740 | $94,140 | $85,090 |
| 55 | Trenton, NJ | $82,660 | $54,040 | $96,760 | $80,110 |
| 56 | Waterloo, IA | $82,640 | $56,780 | $95,370 | $94,930 |
| 57 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,100 | $61,440 | $92,270 | $84,690 |
| 58 | Appleton, WI | $81,950 | $60,630 | $92,440 | $88,670 |
| 59 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $81,390 | $57,910 | $92,960 | $74,380 |
| 60 | Anchorage, AK | $80,580 | $61,320 | $90,060 | $76,440 |
| 61 | Rochester, MN | $80,160 | $61,130 | $89,520 | $88,260 |
| 62 | Wausau, WI | $79,540 | $56,370 | $90,960 | $85,850 |
| 63 | Springfield, MA | $79,520 | $52,080 | $93,020 | $82,780 |
| 64 | Oshkosh, WI | $79,410 | $57,780 | $90,080 | $85,450 |
| 65 | South Bend, IN-MI | $79,350 | $52,150 | $92,770 | $85,450 |
| 66 | Green Bay, WI | $79,160 | $56,700 | $90,210 | $85,040 |
| 67 | Peoria, IL | $79,120 | $48,730 | $94,080 | $86,720 |
| 68 | Syracuse, NY | $79,100 | $50,590 | $93,160 | $82,620 |
| 69 | Salem, OR | $78,810 | $57,600 | $89,250 | $76,040 |
| 70 | Columbus, OH | $78,460 | $54,950 | $90,040 | $82,180 |
| 71 | St. Cloud, MN | $78,100 | $57,570 | $88,230 | $89,120 |
| 72 | Evansville, IN | $78,080 | $56,780 | $88,590 | $85,310 |
| 73 | Buffalo, NY | $78,000 | $51,630 | $90,980 | $81,380 |
| 74 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $77,940 | $50,690 | $91,330 | $81,970 |
| 75 | Indianapolis, IN | $77,670 | $53,710 | $89,460 | $81,160 |
| 76 | Reno, NV | $77,330 | $57,870 | $86,920 | $76,550 |
| 77 | Spokane, WA | $77,290 | $56,260 | $87,650 | $77,020 |
| 78 | Kokomo, IN | $77,150 | $52,790 | $89,130 | $86,060 |
| 79 | Barnstable Town, MA | $77,000 | $56,330 | $87,190 | $78,290 |
| 80 | Kenosha, WI | $76,980 | $58,180 | $86,240 | $76,130 |
| 81 | Eau Claire, WI | $76,960 | $56,680 | $86,960 | $82,930 |
| 82 | Lafayette, IN | $76,810 | $52,960 | $88,570 | $82,210 |
| 83 | Bend, OR | $76,540 | $58,360 | $85,490 | $73,880 |
| 84 | Bay City, MI | $76,500 | $53,410 | $87,880 | $83,220 |
| 85 | Hanford, CA | $76,210 | $44,840 | $91,640 | $75,000 |
| 86 | Kingston, NY | $75,880 | $54,410 | $86,440 | $75,350 |
| 87 | Mankato, MN | $75,250 | $55,220 | $85,130 | $82,730 |
| 88 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $75,210 | $51,060 | $87,090 | $73,340 |
| 89 | Amherst Town, MA | $75,150 | $51,810 | $86,650 | $74,970 |
| 90 | Providence, RI-MA | $75,000 | $56,640 | $84,050 | $73,690 |
| 91 | Utica, NY | $74,900 | $47,590 | $88,360 | $80,820 |
| 92 | Binghamton, NY | $74,800 | $47,470 | $88,250 | $80,550 |
| 93 | Rochester, NY | $74,710 | $48,650 | $87,550 | $76,990 |
| 94 | Cleveland, OH | $74,690 | $51,500 | $86,110 | $79,520 |
| 95 | Yakima, WA | $74,670 | $56,280 | $83,720 | $78,150 |
| 96 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,530 | $51,880 | $85,700 | $74,370 |
| 97 | Sheboygan, WI | $74,280 | $59,110 | $81,760 | $79,010 |
| 98 | Fort Wayne, IN | $73,610 | $49,900 | $85,280 | $79,520 |
| 99 | Janesville, WI | $73,590 | $53,770 | $83,350 | $78,540 |
| 100 | Longview, WA | $73,440 | $55,890 | $82,080 | $75,290 |
| 101 | Duluth, MN-WI | $73,300 | $54,870 | $82,370 | $82,570 |
| 102 | El Centro, CA | $73,090 | $50,290 | $84,320 | $76,800 |
| 103 | Elmira, NY | $73,070 | $45,200 | $86,800 | $77,410 |
| 104 | Norwich, CT | $73,070 | $57,050 | $80,970 | $72,750 |
| 105 | Fond du Lac, WI | $72,860 | $52,270 | $83,010 | $79,500 |
| 106 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $72,820 | $51,810 | $83,180 | $79,350 |
| 107 | Battle Creek, MI | $72,800 | $59,900 | $79,140 | $80,410 |
| 108 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $72,760 | $49,840 | $84,050 | $76,290 |
| 109 | Albany, OR | $72,720 | $53,120 | $82,370 | $71,220 |
| 110 | Toledo, OH | $72,200 | $49,520 | $83,350 | $78,950 |
| 111 | Glens Falls, NY | $71,590 | $49,550 | $82,470 | $75,460 |
| 112 | Midland, MI | $71,120 | $55,220 | $78,960 | $77,370 |
| 113 | Columbus, IN | $71,010 | $49,650 | $81,540 | $76,350 |
| 114 | Eugene, OR | $71,010 | $54,750 | $79,020 | $69,910 |
| 115 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $70,930 | $47,650 | $82,390 | $76,650 |
| 116 | Sandusky, OH | $70,870 | $49,070 | $81,600 | $79,380 |
| 117 | Boulder, CO | $70,760 | $55,490 | $78,290 | $67,260 |
| 118 | Akron, OH | $70,700 | $48,110 | $81,810 | $75,720 |
| 119 | Jackson, MI | $70,490 | $48,440 | $81,350 | $76,800 |
| 120 | Dayton, OH | $70,030 | $50,360 | $79,710 | $75,550 |
| 121 | Visalia, CA | $70,010 | $48,300 | $80,700 | $70,130 |
| 122 | Flint, MI | $69,780 | $50,090 | $79,480 | $75,000 |
| 123 | Medford, OR | $69,620 | $51,900 | $78,350 | $68,640 |
| 124 | Bozeman, MT | $69,510 | $56,220 | $76,070 | $67,810 |
| 125 | Idaho Falls, ID | $69,490 | $47,420 | $80,350 | $73,600 |
| 126 | Detroit, MI | $69,390 | $49,050 | $79,410 | $69,180 |
| 127 | Jefferson City, MO | $69,390 | $46,220 | $80,810 | $78,870 |
| 128 | Pittsfield, MA | $69,330 | $49,130 | $79,290 | $72,900 |
| 129 | Walla Walla, WA | $69,160 | $56,640 | $75,340 | $70,200 |
| 130 | Davenport, IA-IL | $68,930 | $46,280 | $80,100 | $77,380 |
| 131 | Carson City, NV | $68,890 | $54,700 | $75,880 | $70,200 |
| 132 | Pittsburgh, PA | $68,660 | $48,320 | $78,690 | $72,520 |
| 133 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $68,290 | $52,920 | $75,860 | $69,480 |
| 134 | Grants Pass, OR | $68,200 | $55,910 | $74,260 | $69,760 |
| 135 | Mansfield, OH | $67,950 | $46,240 | $78,640 | $76,460 |
| 136 | Minot, ND | $67,890 | $55,740 | $73,880 | $78,010 |
| 137 | Youngstown, OH | $67,790 | $46,400 | $78,310 | $77,570 |
| 138 | State College, PA | $67,750 | $43,990 | $79,460 | $70,020 |
| 139 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $67,700 | $43,990 | $79,390 | $78,370 |
| 140 | Reading, PA | $67,520 | $46,990 | $77,650 | $69,570 |
| 141 | Denver, CO | $67,120 | $55,830 | $72,700 | $63,450 |
| 142 | Kalamazoo, MI | $67,120 | $47,320 | $76,880 | $70,770 |
| 143 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $66,910 | $49,670 | $75,420 | $66,930 |
| 144 | Muncie, IN | $66,830 | $43,950 | $78,080 | $75,820 |
| 145 | Niles, MI | $66,640 | $48,210 | $75,730 | $72,140 |
| 146 | Canton, OH | $66,600 | $45,860 | $76,790 | $74,490 |
| 147 | Elkhart, IN | $66,480 | $49,360 | $74,900 | $73,600 |
| 148 | Des Moines, IA | $66,330 | $52,230 | $73,280 | $72,330 |
| 149 | Lansing, MI | $66,310 | $46,900 | $75,860 | $69,810 |
| 150 | Terre Haute, IN | $66,250 | $46,050 | $76,190 | $75,460 |
| 151 | Grand Rapids, MI | $66,160 | $48,460 | $74,880 | $69,240 |
| 152 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $66,140 | $51,810 | $73,220 | $76,320 |
| 153 | Bismarck, ND | $66,120 | $51,080 | $73,530 | $72,640 |
| 154 | Ann Arbor, MI | $65,960 | $45,550 | $76,000 | $65,380 |
| 155 | Fort Collins, CO | $65,940 | $54,660 | $71,490 | $65,200 |
| 156 | Watertown, NY | $65,810 | $55,540 | $70,870 | $75,050 |
| 157 | Bloomington, IN | $65,710 | $41,040 | $77,850 | $69,110 |
| 158 | York, PA | $65,710 | $48,960 | $73,940 | $68,450 |
| 159 | Columbia, MO | $65,620 | $43,600 | $76,480 | $73,370 |
| 160 | Manchester, NH | $65,560 | $50,420 | $73,030 | $62,050 |
| 161 | Saginaw, MI | $65,420 | $47,590 | $74,190 | $71,980 |
| 162 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $65,400 | $53,100 | $71,470 | $73,510 |
| 163 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $65,250 | $48,800 | $73,340 | $70,110 |
| 164 | Great Falls, MT | $65,150 | $50,290 | $72,470 | $67,270 |
| 165 | Corvallis, OR | $64,850 | $52,500 | $70,950 | $62,350 |
| 166 | Dubuque, IA | $64,850 | $50,810 | $71,760 | $74,260 |
| 167 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $64,850 | $49,070 | $72,630 | $59,560 |
| 168 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $64,600 | $44,430 | $74,550 | $75,050 |
| 169 | Billings, MT | $64,560 | $52,980 | $70,260 | $69,030 |
| 170 | Traverse City, MI | $64,420 | $51,940 | $70,570 | $68,990 |
| 171 | Monroe, MI | $64,290 | $45,140 | $73,740 | $68,770 |
| 172 | Scranton, PA | $64,270 | $47,030 | $72,760 | $68,700 |
| 173 | Fargo, ND-MN | $64,150 | $50,590 | $70,840 | $70,590 |
| 174 | Missoula, MT | $63,900 | $51,080 | $70,220 | $66,260 |
| 175 | Lawrence, KS | $63,690 | $46,450 | $72,180 | $70,580 |
| 176 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $63,670 | $49,900 | $70,450 | $69,840 |
| 177 | Lancaster, PA | $63,540 | $46,550 | $71,930 | $64,670 |
| 178 | Helena, MT | $63,460 | $51,690 | $69,260 | $66,330 |
| 179 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,360 | $50,540 | $69,660 | $61,330 |
| 180 | Muskegon, MI | $63,340 | $49,550 | $70,120 | $68,460 |
| 181 | Iowa City, IA | $63,090 | $51,600 | $68,740 | $68,940 |
| 182 | Salt Lake City, UT | $62,900 | $51,500 | $68,520 | $62,360 |
| 183 | Colorado Springs, CO | $62,860 | $50,070 | $69,140 | $62,420 |
| 184 | Boise City, ID | $62,800 | $50,210 | $68,990 | $63,830 |
| 185 | Ames, IA | $62,770 | $51,580 | $68,270 | $70,660 |
| 186 | Harrisburg, PA | $62,460 | $47,920 | $69,620 | $63,310 |
| 187 | Pueblo, CO | $62,320 | $48,650 | $69,040 | $67,910 |
| 188 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $62,150 | $50,270 | $68,000 | $68,570 |
| 189 | Burlington, VT | $62,070 | $53,560 | $66,250 | $61,490 |
| 190 | Ithaca, NY | $62,030 | $44,430 | $70,700 | $60,040 |
| 191 | Portland, ME | $61,940 | $49,500 | $68,080 | $60,810 |
| 192 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $61,920 | $42,100 | $71,680 | $70,110 |
| 193 | Lima, OH | $61,900 | $44,890 | $70,260 | $69,030 |
| 194 | Erie, PA | $61,820 | $48,380 | $68,450 | $67,970 |
| 195 | Lexington Park, MD | $61,630 | $49,150 | $67,790 | $61,170 |
| 196 | Charlottesville, VA | $61,460 | $46,470 | $68,850 | $61,990 |
| 197 | Springfield, OH | $61,170 | $43,890 | $69,700 | $67,600 |
| 198 | Bowling Green, KY | $61,110 | $47,920 | $67,620 | $67,770 |
| 199 | Omaha, NE-IA | $61,090 | $47,920 | $67,580 | $66,470 |
| 200 | Baltimore, MD | $61,070 | $47,070 | $67,950 | $58,450 |
| 201 | Springfield, MO | $60,840 | $44,490 | $68,890 | $68,680 |
| 202 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $60,800 | $41,140 | $70,490 | $68,760 |
| 203 | Greeley, CO | $60,610 | $51,460 | $65,100 | $60,500 |
| 204 | Paducah, KY-IL | $60,380 | $47,380 | $66,790 | $70,140 |
| 205 | Flagstaff, AZ | $60,170 | $48,530 | $65,890 | $59,980 |
| 206 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $60,070 | $49,420 | $65,330 | $61,140 |
| 207 | Ogden, UT | $60,010 | $48,130 | $65,830 | $59,800 |
| 208 | Provo, UT | $59,970 | $48,130 | $65,810 | $61,050 |
| 209 | Manhattan, KS | $59,920 | $42,910 | $68,310 | $66,460 |
| 210 | Rapid City, SD | $59,880 | $48,940 | $65,270 | $67,160 |
| 211 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $59,840 | $49,090 | $65,150 | $69,220 |
| 212 | Topeka, KS | $59,760 | $43,080 | $67,970 | $67,280 |
| 213 | Weirton, WV-OH | $59,700 | $41,560 | $68,620 | $67,060 |
| 214 | Lexington, KY | $59,260 | $46,110 | $65,750 | $63,800 |
| 215 | Lincoln, NE | $58,910 | $47,340 | $64,600 | $64,330 |
| 216 | Baton Rouge, LA | $58,860 | $44,410 | $66,000 | $64,840 |
| 217 | Chambersburg, PA | $58,760 | $46,380 | $64,850 | $62,090 |
| 218 | Farmington, NM | $58,530 | $45,760 | $64,830 | $66,730 |
| 219 | Joplin, MO-KS | $58,530 | $40,560 | $67,370 | $68,280 |
| 220 | Pocatello, ID | $58,320 | $45,430 | $64,690 | $65,600 |
| 221 | New Orleans, LA | $58,280 | $42,910 | $65,850 | $62,940 |
| 222 | Slidell, LA | $58,240 | $42,410 | $66,040 | $62,810 |
| 223 | Johnstown, PA | $58,140 | $46,340 | $63,940 | $67,660 |
| 224 | Midland, TX | $58,070 | $46,680 | $63,690 | $60,630 |
| 225 | Tucson, AZ | $58,030 | $45,680 | $64,110 | $59,890 |
| 226 | Lebanon, PA | $58,010 | $45,200 | $64,330 | $62,230 |
| 227 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $57,910 | $42,180 | $65,640 | $66,990 |
| 228 | Williamsport, PA | $57,660 | $46,010 | $63,400 | $62,440 |
| 229 | Grand Junction, CO | $57,320 | $46,700 | $62,570 | $60,040 |
| 230 | Nashville, TN | $57,280 | $46,900 | $62,380 | $59,460 |
| 231 | Cheyenne, WY | $57,220 | $46,590 | $62,440 | $59,300 |
| 232 | Twin Falls, ID | $57,160 | $44,030 | $63,610 | $62,060 |
| 233 | Odessa, TX | $57,120 | $44,680 | $63,250 | $60,830 |
| 234 | Gettysburg, PA | $56,970 | $45,610 | $62,570 | $59,730 |
| 235 | Yuma, AZ | $56,950 | $43,890 | $63,380 | $61,430 |
| 236 | Logan, UT-ID | $56,830 | $44,780 | $62,750 | $59,240 |
| 237 | St. George, UT | $56,760 | $46,130 | $62,000 | $58,320 |
| 238 | Beaumont, TX | $56,680 | $42,830 | $63,520 | $62,950 |
| 239 | Richmond, VA | $56,620 | $44,080 | $62,800 | $57,860 |
| 240 | Casper, WY | $56,510 | $45,120 | $62,150 | $60,230 |
| 241 | Salisbury, MD | $56,430 | $44,530 | $62,280 | $59,020 |
| 242 | Lewiston, ME | $56,310 | $45,740 | $61,510 | $59,440 |
| 243 | Charleston, WV | $56,180 | $39,890 | $64,190 | $63,320 |
| 244 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $56,140 | $43,140 | $62,520 | $59,660 |
| 245 | Birmingham, AL | $56,100 | $43,180 | $62,460 | $61,220 |
| 246 | Grand Island, NE | $55,620 | $43,660 | $61,510 | $64,180 |
| 247 | Elizabethtown, KY | $55,490 | $43,700 | $61,320 | $61,270 |
| 248 | Houston, TX | $55,410 | $42,790 | $61,630 | $56,180 |
| 249 | Santa Fe, NM | $55,390 | $45,470 | $60,280 | $56,080 |
| 250 | Owensboro, KY | $55,370 | $40,890 | $62,480 | $62,490 |
| 251 | Beckley, WV | $55,290 | $41,060 | $62,280 | $62,570 |
| 252 | Dallas, TX | $55,140 | $44,100 | $60,570 | $53,490 |
| 253 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $55,080 | $44,160 | $60,470 | $56,580 |
| 254 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $55,080 | $42,020 | $61,510 | $59,750 |
| 255 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $55,080 | $43,410 | $60,840 | $56,240 |
| 256 | Durham, NC | $55,020 | $42,640 | $61,130 | $56,390 |
| 257 | Charleston, SC | $54,890 | $43,830 | $60,340 | $54,370 |
| 258 | Miami, FL | $54,890 | $43,620 | $60,470 | $48,080 |
| 259 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $54,870 | $42,020 | $61,210 | $59,990 |
| 260 | Austin, TX | $54,790 | $43,660 | $60,280 | $55,870 |
| 261 | Lynchburg, VA | $54,660 | $40,460 | $61,650 | $61,170 |
| 262 | Lafayette, LA | $54,620 | $41,180 | $61,260 | $62,630 |
| 263 | Dover, DE | $54,560 | $41,640 | $60,920 | $55,950 |
| 264 | Raleigh, NC | $54,450 | $44,100 | $59,570 | $55,470 |
| 265 | Tampa, FL | $54,410 | $42,950 | $60,070 | $53,930 |
| 266 | Albuquerque, NM | $54,370 | $43,470 | $59,740 | $56,900 |
| 267 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $54,370 | $44,180 | $59,380 | $55,470 |
| 268 | Bangor, ME | $54,270 | $43,390 | $59,610 | $56,230 |
| 269 | Morgantown, WV | $54,270 | $39,810 | $61,400 | $58,150 |
| 270 | Sherman, TX | $54,270 | $41,620 | $60,510 | $57,880 |
| 271 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $54,160 | $42,180 | $60,050 | $57,510 |
| 272 | Lake Charles, LA | $54,120 | $39,600 | $61,280 | $63,040 |
| 273 | Blacksburg, VA | $54,100 | $40,810 | $60,630 | $58,350 |
| 274 | Shreveport, LA | $54,060 | $41,870 | $60,070 | $63,780 |
| 275 | Wichita, KS | $53,960 | $41,640 | $60,010 | $60,670 |
| 276 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $53,910 | $43,010 | $59,280 | $60,410 |
| 277 | Decatur, AL | $53,790 | $40,080 | $60,550 | $61,680 |
| 278 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $53,750 | $41,890 | $59,590 | $59,100 |
| 279 | College Station, TX | $53,710 | $40,710 | $60,110 | $59,050 |
| 280 | Crestview, FL | $53,660 | $42,640 | $59,110 | $55,300 |
| 281 | Knoxville, TN | $53,460 | $41,480 | $59,340 | $57,750 |
| 282 | Altoona, PA | $53,210 | $43,640 | $57,930 | $59,450 |
| 283 | Corpus Christi, TX | $53,120 | $41,480 | $58,840 | $57,320 |
| 284 | Naples, FL | $53,120 | $42,720 | $58,260 | $51,470 |
| 285 | Cape Coral, FL | $53,000 | $42,850 | $57,990 | $51,780 |
| 286 | San Antonio, TX | $52,980 | $42,240 | $58,280 | $55,940 |
| 287 | Houma, LA | $52,960 | $41,270 | $58,720 | $62,230 |
| 288 | Jacksonville, FL | $52,870 | $42,160 | $58,160 | $53,140 |
| 289 | Victoria, TX | $52,670 | $38,250 | $59,780 | $58,630 |
| 290 | Orlando, FL | $52,620 | $42,410 | $57,660 | $51,880 |
| 291 | Roanoke, VA | $52,620 | $40,560 | $58,590 | $56,210 |
| 292 | Sebastian, FL | $52,620 | $43,080 | $57,320 | $53,530 |
| 293 | North Port, FL | $52,600 | $43,560 | $57,080 | $51,360 |
| 294 | Savannah, GA | $52,580 | $40,750 | $58,430 | $55,230 |
| 295 | Hinesville, GA | $52,560 | $39,540 | $58,970 | $55,950 |
| 296 | Winchester, VA-WV | $52,480 | $42,160 | $57,550 | $54,410 |
| 297 | Amarillo, TX | $52,460 | $40,710 | $58,260 | $57,130 |
| 298 | Harrisonburg, VA | $52,330 | $43,040 | $56,910 | $55,150 |
| 299 | Huntsville, AL | $52,290 | $41,080 | $57,820 | $56,180 |
| 300 | Fayetteville, NC | $52,230 | $41,250 | $57,640 | $56,790 |
| 301 | Atlanta, GA | $52,100 | $42,060 | $57,050 | $52,070 |
| 302 | Spartanburg, SC | $51,830 | $40,120 | $57,620 | $56,920 |
| 303 | Burlington, NC | $51,750 | $41,250 | $56,910 | $55,530 |
| 304 | Palm Bay, FL | $51,670 | $41,250 | $56,800 | $51,670 |
| 305 | Daphne, AL | $51,630 | $38,580 | $58,050 | $54,530 |
| 306 | Punta Gorda, FL | $51,580 | $42,990 | $55,810 | $51,310 |
| 307 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $51,560 | $41,810 | $56,390 | $51,440 |
| 308 | Greenville, SC | $51,520 | $40,580 | $56,930 | $55,240 |
| 309 | Staunton, VA | $51,480 | $39,310 | $57,450 | $56,490 |
| 310 | Oklahoma City, OK | $51,460 | $39,000 | $57,600 | $56,920 |
| 311 | Augusta, GA-SC | $51,440 | $40,500 | $56,830 | $55,970 |
| 312 | Las Cruces, NM | $51,400 | $41,410 | $56,330 | $56,980 |
| 313 | Cleveland, TN | $51,360 | $41,500 | $56,200 | $58,310 |
| 314 | Abilene, TX | $51,290 | $39,520 | $57,100 | $56,760 |
| 315 | Greensboro, NC | $51,270 | $40,830 | $56,410 | $55,210 |
| 316 | Lakeland, FL | $51,250 | $39,230 | $57,160 | $52,760 |
| 317 | Panama City, FL | $51,210 | $40,500 | $56,470 | $52,630 |
| 318 | Hickory, NC | $51,170 | $38,630 | $57,350 | $57,830 |
| 319 | Greenville, NC | $51,000 | $40,250 | $56,310 | $57,690 |
| 320 | Florence, SC | $50,940 | $40,390 | $56,140 | $58,700 |
| 321 | Tulsa, OK | $50,900 | $40,620 | $55,950 | $57,050 |
| 322 | Pinehurst, NC | $50,690 | $38,900 | $56,490 | $57,380 |
| 323 | Columbia, SC | $50,590 | $39,850 | $55,870 | $54,010 |
| 324 | Mobile, AL | $50,500 | $39,920 | $55,720 | $57,320 |
| 325 | Longview, TX | $50,440 | $40,810 | $55,180 | $56,370 |
| 326 | Jackson, TN | $50,290 | $38,940 | $55,890 | $58,800 |
| 327 | Tyler, TX | $50,190 | $38,020 | $56,180 | $54,460 |
| 328 | Johnson City, TN | $50,130 | $39,400 | $55,410 | $57,010 |
| 329 | Sumter, SC | $50,110 | $42,330 | $53,960 | $56,930 |
| 330 | Asheville, NC | $50,070 | $41,750 | $54,160 | $51,880 |
| 331 | Gulfport, MS | $50,040 | $36,630 | $56,660 | $55,600 |
| 332 | Wilmington, NC | $49,980 | $40,460 | $54,680 | $51,830 |
| 333 | Fayetteville, AR | $49,960 | $40,580 | $54,580 | $54,690 |
| 334 | Morristown, TN | $49,960 | $40,140 | $54,790 | $57,850 |
| 335 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $49,860 | $39,330 | $55,040 | $56,840 |
| 336 | Warner Robins, GA | $49,860 | $39,400 | $55,020 | $53,160 |
| 337 | Rocky Mount, NC | $49,750 | $39,420 | $54,830 | $56,530 |
| 338 | Lubbock, TX | $49,730 | $39,480 | $54,770 | $54,460 |
| 339 | Hammond, LA | $49,590 | $38,420 | $55,100 | $58,710 |
| 340 | Hattiesburg, MS | $49,590 | $35,760 | $56,410 | $56,590 |
| 341 | San Angelo, TX | $49,590 | $36,380 | $56,100 | $53,640 |
| 342 | Waco, TX | $49,480 | $38,420 | $54,930 | $53,460 |
| 343 | Winston, NC | $49,420 | $39,980 | $54,080 | $53,690 |
| 344 | Florence, AL | $49,360 | $36,280 | $55,790 | $58,200 |
| 345 | Gainesville, FL | $49,320 | $39,670 | $54,080 | $50,990 |
| 346 | Enid, OK | $49,150 | $39,460 | $53,910 | $58,330 |
| 347 | Jacksonville, NC | $49,070 | $36,610 | $55,200 | $53,290 |
| 348 | Brunswick, GA | $48,960 | $36,420 | $55,120 | $55,820 |
| 349 | Dothan, AL | $48,940 | $32,180 | $57,200 | $58,380 |
| 350 | Pensacola, FL | $48,920 | $40,680 | $52,980 | $50,060 |
| 351 | Parkersburg, WV | $48,840 | $35,630 | $55,350 | $56,100 |
| 352 | Macon, GA | $48,800 | $40,120 | $53,060 | $55,120 |
| 353 | Anniston, AL | $48,730 | $33,280 | $56,350 | $56,700 |
| 354 | Sebring, FL | $48,670 | $38,480 | $53,680 | $52,630 |
| 355 | Lawton, OK | $48,590 | $36,190 | $54,700 | $56,540 |
| 356 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $48,590 | $40,350 | $52,640 | $51,890 |
| 357 | Killeen, TX | $48,550 | $36,710 | $54,390 | $53,270 |
| 358 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $48,550 | $37,810 | $53,850 | $57,790 |
| 359 | Gainesville, GA | $48,530 | $38,880 | $53,270 | $50,150 |
| 360 | Jackson, MS | $48,170 | $36,880 | $53,750 | $54,090 |
| 361 | Tallahassee, FL | $48,050 | $37,860 | $53,080 | $51,160 |
| 362 | Wichita Falls, TX | $47,900 | $37,840 | $52,870 | $53,510 |
| 363 | Auburn, AL | $47,760 | $36,770 | $53,160 | $54,310 |
| 364 | El Paso, TX | $47,610 | $36,520 | $53,060 | $52,950 |
| 365 | Deltona, FL | $47,490 | $38,500 | $51,920 | $47,790 |
| 366 | Goldsboro, NC | $47,400 | $38,250 | $51,920 | $53,580 |
| 367 | Ocala, FL | $47,400 | $37,360 | $52,350 | $49,770 |
| 368 | Monroe, LA | $47,340 | $33,650 | $54,080 | $56,630 |
| 369 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $47,130 | $37,040 | $52,100 | $50,420 |
| 370 | Wildwood, FL | $47,110 | $36,820 | $52,190 | $55,150 |
| 371 | Little Rock, AR | $47,090 | $38,230 | $51,480 | $52,690 |
| 372 | Eagle Pass, TX | $46,920 | $31,050 | $54,720 | $55,990 |
| 373 | Montgomery, AL | $46,340 | $32,510 | $53,160 | $51,670 |
| 374 | Valdosta, GA | $46,180 | $35,110 | $51,630 | $52,320 |
| 375 | Alexandria, LA | $46,160 | $32,450 | $52,890 | $53,870 |
| 376 | Columbus, GA-AL | $45,720 | $37,210 | $49,900 | $51,200 |
| 377 | Jonesboro, AR | $45,090 | $35,190 | $49,960 | $52,510 |
| 378 | Laredo, TX | $44,840 | $37,860 | $48,300 | $51,570 |
| 379 | Albany, GA | $44,260 | $36,280 | $48,210 | $50,490 |
| 380 | Athens, GA | $44,080 | $34,840 | $48,610 | $47,220 |
| 381 | Dalton, GA | $43,870 | $37,000 | $47,260 | $48,830 |
| 382 | McAllen, TX | $42,720 | $33,990 | $47,010 | $49,740 |
| 383 | Brownsville, TX | $42,600 | $34,260 | $46,700 | $49,550 |
| 384 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $42,270 | $35,690 | $45,490 | $49,220 |
| 385 | Rome, GA | $40,870 | $32,180 | $45,160 | $45,330 |
| 386 | Gadsden, AL | $40,580 | $28,350 | $46,590 | $47,380 |
| 387 | Hot Springs, AR | $39,500 | $29,830 | $44,240 | $46,070 |
| 388 | Arecibo, PR | $35,110 | $27,460 | $38,880 | N/A |
| 389 | Mayaguez, PR | $34,340 | $27,040 | $37,940 | N/A |
| 390 | San Juan, PR | $32,410 | $24,710 | $36,190 | N/A |
| 391 | Aguadilla, PR | $31,840 | $23,980 | $35,710 | N/A |
| 392 | Ponce, PR | $30,910 | $22,780 | $34,920 | N/A |
More
More on heavy equipment operators
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Heavy Equipment Operator salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays heavy equipment operators the most?
San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $111,400 a year, followed by San Francisco, CA ($110,300), Kahului, HI ($106,970), Urban Honolulu, HI ($104,000). The national mean is $66,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do heavy equipment operators earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Decatur, IL ($103,830 at national prices, $91,810 nominal), San Jose, CA ($100,880 at national prices, $111,400 nominal), Kahului, HI ($97,790 at national prices, $106,970 nominal).
How much do heavy equipment operators make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $100,710; Los Angeles, CA: $94,200; Chicago, IL-IN: $96,370; Dallas, TX: $55,140; Houston, TX: $55,410 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do heavy equipment operators earn the least?
Of the 392 metro areas with their own estimate, Ponce, PR has the lowest mean wage, $30,910.