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Construction equipment operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$59,850median pay per year, or $28.78 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $42,190lowest 10% earn less
  2. $48,68025th percentile
  3. $59,850median
  4. $77,17075th percentile
  5. $101,090top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earned a median of $59,850 a year in May 2025[1]. The usual entry requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent plus on-the-job training[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.6%[5]
Openings per year
39,200[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[2]

How much do construction equipment operators make?

The median pay for a construction equipment operator was $59,850 a year, or $28.78 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of all workers were paid more than this and half were paid less[1]. That is above the $50,980 median for all occupations[4]. The average was $66,290 a year, or $31.87 an hour[7].

Pay spreads widely. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,190 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $101,090[3]. BLS explains that a percentile is a boundary, and it publishes percentiles, not a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $42,190 $20.28
25th percentile[3][9] $48,680 $23.40
Median[1] $59,850 $28.78
75th percentile[3][9] $77,170 $37.10
90th percentile[3][9] $101,090 $48.60

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses that are not tied to production or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest median pay at $115,860 a year[11]. Illinois came next at $97,740, then New Jersey at $89,660, California at $87,160 and Washington at $81,700[11]. Arkansas was at the bottom of the published list at $44,520[11].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kahului-Wailuku, HI had the highest median at $124,990[12]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $124,750, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $124,340[12].

The most jobs were in Texas (55,540), California (36,020), Florida (27,510), Pennsylvania (22,120) and Ohio (16,920)[13]. Texas had a median of $50,460[11]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX with 14,000, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX with 11,510, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ with 11,430[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[11]$115,8602,380
Illinois$97,74012,290
New Jersey$89,6605,980
California$87,16036,020
Washington$81,70010,290
New York$80,98014,490
Indiana$79,58011,520
Minnesota$79,1308,590
Connecticut$78,7502,860
Alaska$77,8103,050
Massachusetts$76,8209,680
Wisconsin$75,2808,140
District of Columbia$74,610620
Oregon$73,4305,630
Nevada$71,4105,410
Ohio$64,94016,920
Rhode Island$63,610970
Wyoming$62,9603,800
Michigan$62,6909,500
Colorado$62,62011,700
New Hampshire$62,2001,330
North Dakota$62,1504,890
Idaho$61,6804,270
Montana$61,5803,750
Maryland$61,4106,610
Utah$60,7407,880
Arizona$60,62013,200
Missouri$60,54010,470
Pennsylvania$60,53022,120
Iowa$60,3305,530
South Dakota$59,5002,050
Vermont$58,8701,280
Nebraska$58,3603,180
Delaware$58,0201,230
Kentucky$57,7807,050
Virginia$57,16012,100
Maine$56,1402,210
New Mexico$52,0005,520
Tennessee$52,00010,660
Louisiana$51,7007,860
Kansas$51,6207,070
West Virginia$51,3007,830
Texas$50,46055,540
Florida$49,40027,510
North Carolina$49,31016,580
South Carolina$48,9408,160
Oklahoma$47,9707,050
Georgia$47,88015,700
Alabama$47,5209,640
Mississippi$47,4104,170
Arkansas$44,5205,800

How to become a construction equipment operator

The training details here come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of construction equipment occupations, not only this one[15].

1) Finish high school or earn an equivalent[2]. BLS lists this as the usual education for entry, with no related work experience needed[2]. 2) Choose a way to learn the equipment[16]. Some workers learn on the job, some go through an apprenticeship, and some attend vocational schools[16]. 3) If you learn on the job, expect to start on lighter equipment with an experienced operator[17]. You may move to heavier machines later[17]. BLS rates the typical on-the-job training as moderate-term[2]. 4) If you choose an apprenticeship[18], plan for a 3- or 4-year program that mixes paid work with classroom instruction[18]. Requirements differ by program and region[18]. Finishing one makes you a journey worker who needs less guidance[19]. 5) If you choose vocational school[20], some schools focus on one brand or type of equipment, and some use simulators[20][21]. 6) Check licenses[22]. Operators often need a commercial driver's license to haul equipment to jobsites, and state rules differ[22]. A few states have special licenses for backhoe, loader and bulldozer operators[23]. Some states and cities require a crane license for pile driver operators[24].

Math courses and an automotive mechanics course can help, because operators often maintain their own equipment[25]. Machines with computerized controls may call for more training and some knowledge of electronics[17].

What construction equipment operators do

Operators run power equipment such as bulldozers, graders, loaders and backhoes to dig, move and level earth, or to pour concrete and paving[26]. Common tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include heavy equipment operator, motor grader operator and back hoe operator[28].

Where they work

Heavy and civil engineering construction was the largest employer in 2025, at 30% of construction equipment operators[29]. Some operators work in remote places on big projects such as highways and dams, and some work in factories or mines[30]. The job continues in unpleasant weather, and workers often get dirty or dusty[30]. Rain or extreme cold can stop some types of construction[30].

Schedules can be irregular, including around-the-clock or late-night work. Most operators are employed full time, and some put in over 40 hours a week[31]. Work can be seasonal where winters are very cold[31]. Following safety procedures and wearing protective gear lowers the risk of injury[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 489,500 to 511,800 jobs[5]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[33]. These counts include self-employed workers[5]. The OEWS count for May 2025 was 478,090 wage and salary jobs[34]. The two counts measure different things.

BLS expects about 39,200 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings also come from workers who retire or change occupations, so they are not all new jobs[6]. Each year, 3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.4% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The entry bar is a high school diploma or equivalent with no related experience, which makes the first step simple[2]. Pay is above the all-occupations median, but it ranges from $42,190 at the 10th percentile to $101,090 at the 90th, and location matters a great deal[1][4][3][11]. Growth is slightly faster than the all-occupations rate[5][33]. The work can involve unpleasant weather, can run long or irregular hours, and can be seasonal in cold regions[30][31]. People who are comfortable with that setting and with learning on the job or through an apprenticeship may find the numbers workable.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a construction equipment operator make an hour?
The median was $28.78 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $31.87[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $20.28 and the 90th was $48.60[9].
What education do you need to be a construction equipment operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[2]. Some people use an apprenticeship or vocational school instead[16].
How long does it take to become a construction equipment operator?
BLS classes the on-the-job training as moderate-term[2]. An apprenticeship runs 3 or 4 years[18]. These details come from a profile covering a wider group of occupations[15].
Is construction equipment operator a growing job?
BLS projects 4.6% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 39,200 openings a year[5][33][6].
What is the highest paying state for construction equipment operators?
Hawaii, with a median of $115,860 a year in May 2025[11]. Illinois was next at $97,740[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the US was $59,850 per year and $28.78 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: 10th percentile $42,190, 25th percentile $48,680, 75th percentile $77,170, 90th percentile $101,090. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is projected to grow 4.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 489,500 to 511,800 jobs (a change of +22,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 39,200 openings for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators was $66,290 per year and $31.87 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: 10th percentile $20.28, 25th percentile $23.40, 75th percentile $37.10, 90th percentile $48.60. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $124,990; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $124,750; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $124,340; Urban Honolulu, HI $117,630; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $105,080; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $103,100; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $103,060; Decatur, IL $100,520. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators jobs: Texas 55,540; California 36,020; Florida 27,510; Pennsylvania 22,120; Ohio 16,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 14,000 (median $51,040); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 11,510 (median $51,370); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 11,430 (median $95,050); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,780 (median $92,890); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 8,360 (median $49,430); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 7,980 (median $62,540). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Construction Equipment Operators" covers Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 47-2073.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Back Hoe Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator (EO), Forklift Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO), Hot Mix Asphalt Operator, Machine Operator, Motor Grader Operator. O*NET OnLine
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of construction equipment operators in 2025: Heavy and civil engineering construction 30%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 478,090 people were employed as Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.