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This question is about heavy equipment operator salaries.
What is a good starting salary for a Heavy Equipment Operator?
A good starting salary for a heavy equipment operator is $28,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a heavy equipment operator in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for heavy equipment operators is $36,918, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a heavy equipment operator can vary by state, as we show below.
What Is A Good Entry-Level Heavy Equipment Operator Salary By State?
The following table shows how much an entry level heavy equipment operator earns in each state. Zippia used data from the BLS, public records, and job postings to create these estimates.
| State | Starting Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Alaska | $52,000 | $4,333 | $1,000 | $25.0 |
| Washington | $41,000 | $3,416 | $788 | $19.71 |
| Hawaii | $37,000 | $3,083 | $711 | $17.79 |
| North Dakota | $36,000 | $3,000 | $692 | $17.31 |
| Massachusetts | $36,000 | $3,000 | $692 | $17.31 |
| Vermont | $36,000 | $3,000 | $692 | $17.31 |
| Minnesota | $35,000 | $2,916 | $673 | $16.83 |
| Oregon | $34,000 | $2,833 | $653 | $16.35 |
| New Hampshire | $34,000 | $2,833 | $653 | $16.35 |
| West Virginia | $33,000 | $2,750 | $634 | $15.87 |
| Maryland | $33,000 | $2,750 | $634 | $15.87 |
| California | $32,000 | $2,666 | $615 | $15.38 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,000 | $2,666 | $615 | $15.38 |
| Wisconsin | $32,000 | $2,666 | $615 | $15.38 |
| Montana | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
| Kentucky | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
| Illinois | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
| New York | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
| Indiana | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| Connecticut | $30,000 | $2,500 | $576 | $14.42 |
| Idaho | $29,000 | $2,416 | $557 | $13.94 |
| Wyoming | $29,000 | $2,416 | $557 | $13.94 |
| Ohio | $29,000 | $2,416 | $557 | $13.94 |
| Nevada | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Colorado | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Iowa | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| District of Columbia | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Nebraska | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Virginia | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| South Dakota | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Michigan | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Rhode Island | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| New Jersey | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Missouri | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Delaware | $26,000 | $2,166 | $500 | $12.5 |
| Kansas | $25,000 | $2,083 | $480 | $12.02 |
| Utah | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Maine | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Arizona | $22,000 | $1,833 | $423 | $10.58 |
| Tennessee | $22,000 | $1,833 | $423 | $10.58 |
| North Carolina | $22,000 | $1,833 | $423 | $10.58 |
| Oklahoma | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| Florida | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| Texas | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| Mississippi | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| South Carolina | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| New Mexico | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Louisiana | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Georgia | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Alabama | $18,000 | $1,500 | $346 | $8.65 |
| Arkansas | $16,000 | $1,333 | $307 | $7.69 |
What are The 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entry-Level Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs?
We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an entry level heavy equipment operator job is above the national average. Topping the list is Seattle, WA.
| City | Starting Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Seattle, WA | $47,000 | $3,916 | $903 | $22.6 |
| Portland, OR | $40,000 | $3,333 | $769 | $19.23 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $39,000 | $3,250 | $750 | $18.75 |
| Hazleton, PA | $36,000 | $3,000 | $692 | $17.31 |
| Rockford, IL | $35,000 | $2,916 | $673 | $16.83 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $34,000 | $2,833 | $653 | $16.35 |
| Buffalo, NY | $34,000 | $2,833 | $653 | $16.35 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $33,000 | $2,750 | $634 | $15.87 |
| Toledo, OH | $32,000 | $2,666 | $615 | $15.38 |
| Saint Louis, MO | $31,000 | $2,583 | $596 | $14.9 |
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