Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Heavy Equipment Manager in South Dakota is $92,066 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.
However, a Heavy Equipment Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI-Powered Talent
Heavy Equipment Manager Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $97,348 | $8,112 | $1,872 | $47 |
| Average | $92,066 | $7,672 | $1,770 | $44 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,611 | $6,968 | $1,608 | $40 |
First Rate Excavate - Sioux Falls, SD
Dahme Construction Co. Inc. - Aberdeen, SD
Harvard Integrations LP - Tea, SD
Friessen Construction - Sioux Falls, SD
A Heavy Equipment Manager'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Heavy Equipment Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Heavy Equipment Manager | $89,717 |
| Intermediate Level Heavy Equipment Manager | $90,070 |
| Senior Level Heavy Equipment Manager | $91,244 |
| Specialist Level Heavy Equipment Manager | $92,653 |
| Expert Level Heavy Equipment Manager | $94,029 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Heavy Equipment Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Heavy Equipment Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Transportation and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Heavy Equipment Manager positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Heavy Equipment Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation | $128,892 | $62.0 | 40% |
| Energy & Utilities | $119,686 | $58.0 | 30% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $110,479 | $53.0 | 20% |
| MFG Nondurable | $101,273 | $49.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Heavy Equipment Manager'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $97,348 | $8,112 | $1,872 | $47 |
| Average | $92,066 | $7,672 | $1,770 | $44 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,611 | $6,968 | $1,608 | $40 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Heavy Equipment Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Meade County, SD
Sturgis, SD
Meade County, SD | Sturgis, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Meade County. Heavy Equipment Operator - Class A. Department: Highway more
3 Days Ago
Iron Horse Excavating, Inc
Rapid City, SD
Iron Horse Excavating, Inc | Rapid City, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Operators must be familiar with CAT style controls. Our equipment varies from excavators, dozers, loaders, road graders, ... more
3 Days Ago
Matthaei Excavating Inc
Canistota, SD
Matthaei Excavating Inc | Canistota, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Matthaei Excavating Inc -Canistota, SD is currently seeking to fill positions. Heavy Equipment Operators. Has been servic... more
3 Days Ago
Lien Transportation
Aberdeen, SD
Lien Transportation | Aberdeen, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Lien Transportation Company in Aberdeen, SD, has openings for. Heavy Equipment Operators. We respect and highly value har... more
3 Days Ago
Lien Transportation
Rapid City, SD
Lien Transportation | Rapid City, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Lien Transportation Company in Aberdeen, SD, has openings for. Heavy Equipment Operators. We respect and highly value har... more
3 Days Ago
Bowes Construction
Brookings, SD
Bowes Construction | Brookings, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Heavy Equipment Mechanic. Location. Brookings, SD. Company. Bowes Construction Inc. About Us. Bowes Construction Inc. is ... more
3 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
