What are the main factors that influence an Excavator Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Excavator Operator's salary?

An Excavator Operator's salary grows with experience: a Heavy Equipment Operator I (0-1 years)earns $47,126, a Heavy Equipment Operator II (1-3 years)earns $53,176, a Heavy Equipment Operator III (3-5 years)earns $60,827, a Excavator Operator (5-7 years)earns $80,632,

What are the highest paying states for an Excavator Operator?

Excavator Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Excavator Operator roles are District of Columbia $87,051, California $86,721, Massachusetts $85,565. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Excavator Operator roles make?

Salaries for Excavator Operator level roles vary by specialization: Construction Equipment Operator IV: $77,500; Heavy Equipment Operator IV: $77,468; Excavator: $74,095; Construction Equipment Operator III: $58,500; Heavy Equipment Operator III: $58,440.

Excavator Operator Salary in Rhode Island

How much does an Excavator Operator make in Rhode Island?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Excavator Operator in Rhode Island is $81,516 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, an Excavator Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $104,483
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,016 to $93,538
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,277

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Excavator Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$93,538	$7,795	$1,799	$45
Average	$81,516	$6,793	$1,568	$39
25th Percentile	$73,016	$6,085	$1,404	$35

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Excavator Operator Salaries

An Excavator Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Excavator Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Excavator Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $87,051.
California: $86,721.
Massachusetts: $85,565.

District of Columbia $87,051 California $86,721 Massachusetts $85,565 Washington $85,251 New Jersey $85,219 Alaska $85,109 Connecticut $84,024 New York $83,584

Hawaii $82,176 Rhode Island $81,516 Maryland $81,068 Minnesota $80,455 Colorado $80,219 Illinois $80,140 Oregon $79,841 Delaware $79,621

New Hampshire $79,483 Virginia $79,173 Pennsylvania $78,269 Nevada $77,813 North Dakota $77,664 Michigan $77,428 Wisconsin $77,341 Vermont $77,168

Texas $76,689 Maine $76,657 Arizona $76,610 Ohio $76,555 Georgia $75,832 Indiana $75,470 Wyoming $75,399 Utah $75,289

Iowa $75,242 Kansas $74,865 Louisiana $74,754 North Carolina $74,715 Missouri $74,699 Florida $74,393 Montana $74,228 Nebraska $74,070

Kentucky $73,984 South Carolina $73,669 Tennessee $73,473 Idaho $73,394 New Mexico $72,820 Oklahoma $72,695 Alabama $72,231 South Dakota $71,452

Arkansas $71,028 West Virginia $70,800 Mississippi $70,116

Top Paying Cities for Excavator Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Adamsville: $82,535
Albion: $81,838
Ashaway: $82,379

Adamsville, RI $82,535 Albion, RI $81,838 Ashaway, RI $82,379 Barrington, RI $81,622 Block Island, RI $82,077 Bradford, RI $82,329 Bristol, RI $81,937 Carolina, RI $82,193

Charlestown, RI $82,223 Chepachet, RI $82,059 Clayville, RI $81,831 Coventry, RI $81,834 West Greenwich, RI $82,060 East Greenwich, RI $81,779 Exeter, RI $82,037 Fiskeville, RI $81,621

Forestdale, RI $82,250 Foster, RI $82,016 Glendale, RI $82,256 Greene, RI $82,124 Greenville, RI $81,652 Harmony, RI $81,757 Harrisville, RI $82,220 Hope, RI $81,672

Hope Valley, RI $82,306 Hopkinton, RI $82,415 Jamestown, RI $82,139 Kenyon, RI $82,183 Little Compton, RI $82,522 Manville, RI $81,945 Mapleville, RI $82,075 Newport, RI $82,222

Middletown, RI $82,258 North Kingstown, RI $81,920 North Scituate, RI $81,758 Oakland, RI $82,164 Pascoag, RI $82,275 Pawtucket, RI $81,500 Central Falls, RI $81,536 Cumberland, RI $82,000

Lincoln, RI $81,618 Portsmouth, RI $82,213 Prudence Island, RI $82,044 Rockville, RI $82,402 Saunderstown, RI $82,090 Shannock, RI $82,187 Slatersville, RI $82,250 Slocum, RI $82,088

Tiverton, RI $82,463 Wakefield, RI $82,160 Kingston, RI $82,128 Narragansett, RI $82,183 Peace Dale, RI $82,150 Warren, RI $81,833 Warwick, RI $81,605 Westerly, RI $82,398

West Kingston, RI $82,154 West Warwick, RI $81,705 Wood River Junction, RI $82,272 Woonsocket, RI $82,254 North Smithfield, RI $82,067 Wyoming, RI $82,187 Providence, RI $81,477 Cranston, RI $81,488

North Providence, RI $81,497 East Providence, RI $81,482 Riverside, RI $81,508 Rumford, RI $81,496 Smithfield, RI $81,661 Johnston, RI $81,525

Excavator Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Excavator Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Excavator Operator positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Excavator Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Excavator Operator

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$97,819	$47.0	20%
Biotechnology	$97,819	$47.0	20%
Chemicals	$97,819	$47.0	20%
Energy & Utilities	$97,819	$47.0	20%
Financial Services	$97,819	$47.0	20%

Excavator Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Excavator Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$73,016

Average $81,516/year

$93,538

$6,085

Average $6,793/month

$7,795

$1,404

Average $1,568/week

$1,799

$35

Average $39/hour

$45

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$93,538	$7,795	$1,799	$45
Average	$81,516	$6,793	$1,568	$39
25th Percentile	$73,016	$6,085	$1,404	$35

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