Heavy equipment operator demographics and statistics in the US
Heavy equipment operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates heavy equipment operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our heavy equipment operator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about heavy equipment operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 412,047 heavy equipment operators currently employed in the United States.
- 5.2% of all heavy equipment operators are women, while 94.8% are men.
- The average heavy equipment operator age is 45 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of heavy equipment operators is White (67.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.4%), Black or African American (7.0%) and Unknown (4.3%).
- Heavy equipment operators are most in-demand in Denver, CO.
- The energy industry is the highest-paying for heavy equipment operators.
- Trenton, NJ pays an annual average wage of $65,145, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women heavy equipment operators earned 92% of what men earned.
- 2% of all heavy equipment operators are LGBT.
- New Jersey is the best state for heavy equipment operators to live.
- Heavy equipment operators are 68% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Heavy equipment operator demographics by:
Heavy equipment operator gender statistics
5.2% of heavy equipment operators are women and 94.8% of heavy equipment operators are men.
- Male, 94.8%
- Female, 5.2%
Heavy equipment operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 94.8% |
| Female | 5.2% |
Heavy equipment operator gender pay gap
Women earn 92¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$40,594
Female income
$37,315
Heavy equipment operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in heavy equipment operator positions over time. Currently, 5.2% of heavy equipment operators are female.
Heavy equipment operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 95.59% | 4.41% |
| 2011 | 96.72% | 3.28% |
| 2012 | 95.85% | 4.15% |
| 2013 | 96.11% | 3.89% |
| 2014 | 95.86% | 4.14% |
| 2015 | 95.06% | 4.94% |
| 2016 | 93.45% | 6.55% |
| 2017 | 94.36% | 5.64% |
| 2018 | 95.65% | 4.35% |
| 2019 | 95.03% | 4.97% |
| 2020 | 94.84% | 5.16% |
| 2021 | 94.81% | 5.19% |
Heavy equipment operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared heavy equipment operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | 95% | 5% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Heavy equipment operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among heavy equipment operators is White, which makes up 67.4% of all heavy equipment operators. Comparatively, 18.4% of heavy equipment operators are Hispanic or Latino and 7.0% of heavy equipment operators are Black or African American.
- White, 67.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.4%
- Black or African American, 7.0%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
- Asian, 0.9%
Heavy equipment operator race
| Heavy equipment operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.4% |
| Black or African American | 7.0% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.0% |
| Asian | 0.9% |
Heavy equipment operator race and ethnicity over time
See how heavy equipment operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Heavy equipment operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 74.73% | 6.51% | 0.70% | 15.41% |
| 2011 | 73.67% | 6.94% | 0.52% | 15.42% |
| 2012 | 73.86% | 6.64% | 0.79% | 15.53% |
| 2013 | 74.31% | 6.28% | 0.89% | 14.86% |
| 2014 | 73.11% | 6.22% | 0.71% | 16.21% |
| 2015 | 72.90% | 6.17% | 0.77% | 16.40% |
| 2016 | 73.83% | 6.19% | 0.51% | 16.16% |
| 2017 | 72.48% | 5.70% | 1.07% | 16.84% |
| 2018 | 72.02% | 6.93% | 0.64% | 17.00% |
| 2019 | 73.06% | 5.94% | 0.55% | 17.35% |
| 2020 | 71.05% | 6.20% | 0.77% | 16.17% |
| 2021 | 67.45% | 7.03% | 0.93% | 18.38% |
Heavy equipment operator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown heavy equipment operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american heavy equipment operators have the lowest average salary at $38,272.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $42,636 |
| White | $40,979 |
| Black or African American | $38,272 |
| Asian | $41,624 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $39,605 |
Average heavy equipment operator age
See how the average age of heavy equipment operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Heavy equipment operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 49.5 | |
| Unknown | 45 | |
| Asian | 46.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 44 | 45.5 |
| White | 47 | 42 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 53 |
Heavy equipment operator age breakdown
The average age of heavy equipment operators is 40+ years years old, representing 64% of the heavy equipment operator population.
Heavy equipment operator age breakdown
| Heavy Equipment Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 64% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Heavy equipment operator educational attainment
The most common degree for heavy equipment operators is high school diploma, with 54% of heavy equipment operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 16% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- High School Diploma, 54%
- Associate, 16%
- Bachelor's, 12%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Heavy equipment operators by degree level
| Heavy equipment operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 54% |
| Associate | 16% |
| Bachelor's | 12% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Heavy equipment operator jobs you might like
Heavy equipment operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, heavy equipment operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $41,613 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, heavy equipment operators earn a median annual income of $40,484 compared to $40,309 for heavy equipment operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $40,309 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,484 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $41,613 |
Heavy equipment operator employment statistics
Most heavy equipment operators work for a private in the construction industry.
Company size where heavy equipment operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where heavy equipment operators work.
Heavy equipment operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 33% |
| > 10,000 employees | 18% |
Heavy equipment operator jobs by company type
Employees with the heavy equipment operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most heavy equipment operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Heavy equipment operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 22% |
| Private | 68% |
| Government | 9% |
Heavy equipment operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for heavy equipment operators are construction, manufacturing and energy.
Heavy equipment operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 38% |
| Manufacturing | 12% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Government | 8% |
| Energy | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Heavy equipment operator turnover and employment statistics
Heavy equipment operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for heavy equipment operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Heavy equipment operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Heavy equipment operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.28% |
| 2011 | 14.22% |
| 2012 | 12.70% |
| 2013 | 11.88% |
| 2014 | 8.77% |
| 2015 | 7.31% |
| 2016 | 6.72% |
| 2017 | 6.69% |
| 2018 | 6.46% |
| 2019 | 5.55% |
| 2020 | 8.40% |
| 2021 | 7.84% |
Average heavy equipment operator tenure
The average heavy equipment operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 59,610 heavy equipment operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Heavy equipment operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 22% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Heavy equipment operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of heavy equipment operators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Kiln Door Builder | 1.40% | 3,960 |
| Acoustical Ceiling Installer | 1.75% | 15,129 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | 2.22% | - |
| Pile Header | 2.24% | 283 |
| Maintenance Electrician | 2.76% | 92,944 |
| Vinyl Installer | 3.39% | 15,058 |
| Fabric Worker | 4.07% | 20,117 |
Similar heavy equipment operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Kiln Door Builder | 1.40% | 3,960 |
| Acoustical Ceiling Installer | 1.75% | 15,129 |
| Pile Header | 2.24% | 283 |
| Maintenance Electrician | 2.76% | 92,944 |
| Vinyl Installer | 3.39% | 15,058 |
| Fabric Worker | 4.07% | 20,117 |
Foreign languages spoken by heavy equipment operators
The most common foreign language among heavy equipment operators is Spanish at 76.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Carrier at 4.0% and French is the third-most popular at 2.8%.
- Spanish, 76.4%
- Carrier, 4.0%
- French, 2.8%
- German, 2.5%
- Dakota, 2.1%
- Other, 12.2%
Heavy equipment operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 76.4% |
| Carrier | 4.0% |
| French | 2.8% |
| German | 2.5% |
| Dakota | 2.1% |
| Other | 12.2% |
