Best States for Operating Engineers (Heavy Equipment)

Ranked by median salary, with cost-of-living adjustments. Find where operating engineers (heavy equipment) earn the most and have the best purchasing power.

+4.1% projected growth

About average growth (national avg: +4%, +0.1pp)

State Rankings

Rank	State	Median	COL-Adjusted	Employment
1	HawaiiHI	$105,440	$88,382	1,740
2	IllinoisIL	$96,980	$97,960	11,690
3	CaliforniaCA	$89,120	$78,728	36,040
4	New JerseyNJ	$84,170	$74,421	6,450
5	New YorkNY	$80,260	$69,429	14,700
6	WashingtonWA	$79,190	$73,802	9,070
7	MinnesotaMN	$78,580	$79,534	8,290
8	ConnecticutCT	$76,690	$71,406	2,810
9	Rhode IslandRI	$76,030	$75,501	850
10	AlaskaAK	$75,000	$71,157	3,170
11	MassachusettsMA	$72,800	$65,882	10,360
12	NevadaNV	$72,780	$72,635	5,760
13	WisconsinWI	$72,650	$77,951	8,320
14	IndianaIN	$72,370	$79,353	11,230
15	District of ColumbiaDC	$69,050	$58,916	560
16	OregonOR	$68,210	$67,468	5,450
17	WyomingWY	$63,560	$66,347	3,880
18	New HampshireNH	$62,770	$58,718	1,530
19	North DakotaND	$62,760	$67,629	4,690
20	MichiganMI	$62,550	$67,186	9,420
21	OhioOH	$62,410	$68,733	16,510
22	ColoradoCO	$61,570	$58,638	12,050
23	IowaIA	$61,210	$68,163	5,440
24	MarylandMD	$60,620	$55,260	6,470
25	MontanaMT	$60,130	$62,311	3,610
26	MissouriMO	$60,050	$67,321	8,750
27	ArizonaAZ	$59,900	$61,310	13,520
28	UtahUT	$59,760	$60,917	6,320
29	IdahoID	$59,140	$61,158	4,090
30	PennsylvaniaPA	$58,580	$59,898	20,680
31	NebraskaNE	$57,240	$62,901	3,180
32	KentuckyKY	$57,060	$64,112	7,020
33	South DakotaSD	$56,720	$61,989	2,080
34	DelawareDE	$56,630	$55,629	1,190
35	VermontVT	$56,260	$54,463	1,160
36	MaineME	$55,170	$55,671	1,980
37	VirginiaVA	$52,240	$50,473	11,280
38	KansasKS	$50,600	$55,973	6,850
39	West VirginiaWV	$50,010	$57,089	7,940
40	LouisianaLA	$49,650	$54,560	7,230
41	TexasTX	$49,650	$51,451	55,290
42	New MexicoNM	$49,130	$52,322	5,000
43	TennesseeTN	$49,070	$53,628	10,190
44	North CarolinaNC	$48,910	$52,366	15,890
45	FloridaFL	$48,780	$48,780	29,420
46	South CarolinaSC	$47,480	$52,176	8,430
47	OklahomaOK	$47,190	$52,963	6,690
48	AlabamaAL	$46,870	$53,322	9,640
49	GeorgiaGA	$46,380	$49,817	15,720
50	MississippiMS	$46,020	$53,951	4,150
51	ArkansasAR	$45,170	$51,979	5,550

Analysis

The top three states for operating engineers (heavy equipment) by median salary are Hawaii, Illinois, and California. However, when adjusted for cost of living, the rankings may shift — states with lower living costs can offer greater real purchasing power even with lower nominal salaries.

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