The success as operator of heavy equipment in construction depends on the experience you have, the part of the country where you work, the size of the company you work for and the type of equipment in which you are specialized. Besides earning an hourly wage, many heavy equipment operators report receiving benefits payments, breaks and annual bonuses.
Timeframe
Payment of heavy equipment operator’s in construction increases over time as you acquire more work experience. According to Pascale, operators of heavy construction equipment with less than one year of experience earn an average salary of US $ 14 per hour; one with four years of experience typically earn US $ 15 to US $ 16 per hour; workers with 10-19 years of experience earn about US $ 18 per hour and those who have worked as operators of heavy construction equipment for 20 years or more earn an average of US $ 20 per hour.
Geography
The salary received by the operators of heavy construction equipment depends on the part of the United States where they work. In some areas, salaries can be increased or decreased, depending on local demand. In general, operators of heavy construction equipment in California earn the highest salaries, with an average payment of more than US $ 22 per hour. Those who work in New York and in Pennsylvania earn about US $ 17 and US $ 18, while those working in Michigan earn about US $ 16 per hour. In Texas, Florida and Virginia, these operators earn an average salary of about US $ 14 per hour.
Size
The size of the company in which operators of heavy construction equipment work can also affect their average salary, Equipment operators working for a company with fewer than 10 employees typically earn between US $ 14 and US $ 15 per hour. Those who work for a company with 10-15 workers earn about US $ 16 per hour. Operators working for a company with 50 to 600 workers generally earn between US $ 17 and US $ 18 per hour.
Types
The average payment rates for operators of heavy construction equipment may depend on the type of work they do. Equipment operators specialized in asphalt typically earn about $ 14 an hour, while those who work with specific teams often earn more than US $ 17 per hour. Operators of heavy construction equipment working in excavations earn approximately US $ 16.50 per hour, while those working in underground constructions earn approximately US $ 17.50 per hour. Those working on commercial projects, residential and general construction, typically earn between US $ 16 and US $ 17 per hour.
Benefits
In addition to hourly wage, operators of heavy construction equipment can receive benefits. According to Pascale, operators of heavy construction equipment reported annual bonuses between US $ 500 and US $ 1,000, with generally high bonuses offered to workers with at least 10 years of experience. Almost 72% of the operators of heavy construction equipment reported paid holidays and 33% receiving sick pay. Nearly 40% report having a benefit of 410k and the same percentage has life insurance and disability. Approximately 18% have a cell phone from company and 12% have a company car. More than 13% of the operators of heavy construction equipment have an employer who pays for expenses approved for education or training.