How much does an equipment operator make?
a year · about $29 an hour
A typical equipment operator in the United States makes $59,850 a year, about $29 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
After checking hazards and buried pipes, they use a bulldozer, grader, or loader to dig, move soil, and level a road site. They follow hand signals, watch the machine, and make routine repairs.
Did you know? In an O*NET survey, all respondents in this job group said they work outdoors in all kinds of weather every day.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $42,190 and $101,090How do you become one?
Most start after high school or an equivalent, often around age 18, and learn on the job, at vocational school, or through a 3–4-year apprenticeship. A CDL may be needed to haul machines, and a few states require special equipment licenses.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can rise with experience and skill, and apprentices earn less while learning; useful credentials can also matter. It varies by employer and location, the machines and task complexity, and available hours or night shifts—construction can be seasonal.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Hawaii ($115,860), lowest in Arkansas ($44,520).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a construction operator averages $32,523. Equipment operator salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $42,190 | $59,850 | $101,090 | about 478,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 | about 2,000 |
| Illinois | $97,740 | about 12,000 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | about 6,000 |
| California | $87,160 | about 36,000 |
| Washington | $81,700 | about 10,000 |
Official definition: Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties. Excludes “Extraction Workers” (47-5000) and “Crane and Tower Operators” (53-7021).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/construction-equipment-operators.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2073.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- asuforlife.asu.edu/careers/operating-engineers-and-other-construction-equipment-
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY