Heavy Equipment Operator Pay and Benefits

The pay of heavy equipment operators is generally determined by employer demand, skill level, specialty, and the ability to work on many different pieces of equipment, and operators capable of running a variety of machines sometimes earn more.  Those who work in oilfields and generally within the oil and gas industry are generally paid hourly and make approximately $34,000 to $79,000 annually, as compared to a similar job in regular construction or excavation, which may start at $20,000 per year but offers similar earning potential, depending upon experience.

Heavy Equipment Operator Career Resources