What is the best state for heavy equipment operators?

After cost of living, Hawaii: the median of $115,860 a year buys about what $105,370 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays heavy equipment operators the most?

Before adjusting for prices, Hawaii has the highest median, $115,860. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 51.

What is the worst state for heavy equipment operators after cost of living?

Florida, where the median of $49,400 buys about what $47,770 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for heavy equipment operators

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Hawaii is the best-paying state for heavy equipment operators: its median of $115,860 a year buys what $105,370 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. It also has the highest pay before adjusting.

Heavy equipment operator pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Hawaii$115,860 median · prices 110.0	$105,370	$115,860	110.0
2	Illinois$97,740 median · prices 100.0	$97,780	$97,740	100.0
3	Indiana$79,580 median · prices 93.3	$85,270	$79,580	93.3
4	New Jersey$89,660 median · prices 108.8	$82,400	$89,660	108.8
5	Minnesota$79,130 median · prices 98.6	$80,240	$79,130	98.6
6	Wisconsin$75,280 median · prices 94.1	$80,000	$75,280	94.1
7	California$87,160 median · prices 110.7	$78,720	$87,160	110.7
8	Washington$81,700 median · prices 107.0	$76,350	$81,700	107.0
9	Alaska$77,810 median · prices 102.4	$76,020	$77,810	102.4
10	Connecticut$78,750 median · prices 103.6	$76,010	$78,750	103.6
11	New York$80,980 median · prices 107.9	$75,040	$80,980	107.9
12	Massachusetts$76,820 median · prices 105.8	$72,640	$76,820	105.8
13	Nevada$71,410 median · prices 100.0	$71,420	$71,410	100.0
14	Oregon$73,430 median · prices 103.4	$71,040	$73,430	103.4
15	Ohio$64,940 median · prices 92.8	$70,000	$64,940	92.8
16	North Dakota$62,150 median · prices 89.0	$69,860	$62,150	89.0
17	Iowa$60,330 median · prices 87.8	$68,740	$60,330	87.8
18	Wyoming$62,960 median · prices 92.7	$67,920	$62,960	92.7
19	District of Columbia$74,610 median · prices 109.9	$67,890	$74,610	109.9
20	South Dakota$59,500 median · prices 88.6	$67,170	$59,500	88.6
21	Missouri$60,540 median · prices 90.8	$66,660	$60,540	90.8
22	Michigan$62,690 median · prices 96.2	$65,150	$62,690	96.2
23	Montana$61,580 median · prices 94.6	$65,060	$61,580	94.6
24	Nebraska$58,360 median · prices 90.1	$64,770	$58,360	90.1
25	Idaho$61,680 median · prices 95.5	$64,590	$61,680	95.5
26	Kentucky$57,780 median · prices 90.2	$64,090	$57,780	90.2
27	Rhode Island$63,610 median · prices 102.3	$62,190	$63,610	102.3
28	Pennsylvania$60,530 median · prices 97.6	$62,040	$60,530	97.6
29	Utah$60,740 median · prices 98.9	$61,440	$60,740	98.9
30	Colorado$62,620 median · prices 103.1	$60,770	$62,620	103.1
31	Arizona$60,620 median · prices 100.7	$60,210	$60,620	100.7
32	Vermont$58,870 median · prices 98.0	$60,100	$58,870	98.0
33	New Hampshire$62,200 median · prices 104.2	$59,710	$62,200	104.2
34	Louisiana$51,700 median · prices 88.2	$58,610	$51,700	88.2
35	Maryland$61,410 median · prices 105.0	$58,510	$61,410	105.0
36	Delaware$58,020 median · prices 99.8	$58,130	$58,020	99.8
37	Maine$56,140 median · prices 97.0	$57,850	$56,140	97.0
38	West Virginia$51,300 median · prices 89.5	$57,320	$51,300	89.5
39	Kansas$51,620 median · prices 90.1	$57,310	$51,620	90.1
40	Tennessee$52,000 median · prices 91.9	$56,600	$52,000	91.9
41	Virginia$57,160 median · prices 101.1	$56,540	$57,160	101.1
42	New Mexico$52,000 median · prices 92.2	$56,390	$52,000	92.2
43	Oklahoma$47,970 median · prices 87.8	$54,610	$47,970	87.8
44	Mississippi$47,410 median · prices 87.0	$54,520	$47,410	87.0
45	Alabama$47,520 median · prices 88.8	$53,500	$47,520	88.8
46	North Carolina$49,310 median · prices 94.3	$52,280	$49,310	94.3
47	South Carolina$48,940 median · prices 93.7	$52,200	$48,940	93.7
48	Texas$50,460 median · prices 97.1	$51,990	$50,460	97.1
49	Arkansas$44,520 median · prices 86.9	$51,210	$44,520	86.9
50	Georgia$47,880 median · prices 96.3	$49,720	$47,880	96.3
51	Florida$49,400 median · prices 103.4	$47,770	$49,400	103.4

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full heavy equipment operator pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for heavy equipment operators.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2073) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed heavy equipment operators. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for heavy equipment operators?: After cost of living, Hawaii: the median of $115,860 a year buys about what $105,370 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays heavy equipment operators the most?: Before adjusting for prices, Hawaii has the highest median, $115,860. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 51.
What is the worst state for heavy equipment operators after cost of living?: Florida, where the median of $49,400 buys about what $47,770 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.