Heavy Equipment Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Heavy Equipment Technician make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Heavy Equipment Technician in the United States is $65,924 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a Heavy Equipment Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,661
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,228 to $73,115
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,131
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View as table View as graph 25% $59,228 10% $53,131 90% $79,661 75% $73,115 $65,924 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Heavy Equipment Technician Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $73,115 $6,093 $1,406 $35
Average $65,924 $5,494 $1,268 $32
25th Percentile $59,228 $4,936 $1,139 $28
Check out Heavy Equipment Technician Job Openings in the United States
Heavy Equipment Operator

Centuri Construction Group - Columbus, OH

Equipment Manufacturing Technician

Austin Powder Red Diamond - Mc Arthur, OH

Heavy Equipment Operator

Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) - Columbus, OH

Heavy Equipment Excavator Operator

Klingelhofer Management Group LLC - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Heavy Equipment Technician Salaries

A Heavy Equipment Technician'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 Experience Level Affects Heavy Equipment Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Heavy Equipment Technician'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $55,489
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,389
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $74,549
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $89,457
  • Expert (over 8 years): $97,530
Levels Salary
Shop Serv... Level Heavy Equipment Technician$55,489
Heavy Equ... Level Heavy Equipment Technician$66,389
Shop Serv... Level Heavy Equipment Technician$74,549
Shop Serv... Level Heavy Equipment Technician$89,457
Shop Serv... Level Heavy Equipment Technician$97,530
$55,489 0 yr
$66,389 < 2 yrs
$74,549 2-4 yrs
$89,457 5-8 yrs
$97,530 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Heavy Equipment Technicians

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:

  • San Jose: $83,150
  • San Francisco: $82,240
  • Oakland: $80,507

What Skills Can Increase a Heavy Equipment Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 19.73% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Field Service (Mentioned in 1.9% Job Postings): Managing and optimizing operations to respond to and address customer requests at off-site locations or client sites.
  • Commercial Awareness (Mentioned in 1.05% Job Postings): Maintaining a positive relationship with clients is another example of commercial awareness. Keeping customers happy is the only way to ensure a business continues to run, and you must be aware of this when interacting with them.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 19.73%
Field Service 1.9%
Commercial Awareness 1.05%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Heavy Equipment Technician's salary.
  • Budgeting: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Management Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Customer Relationship: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Budgeting
$82,406
25%
Management Skills
$76,472
16%
Customer Relationship
$69,880
6%
Analysis
$68,561
4%
Leadership
$68,561
4%
Troubleshooting
$68,561
4%
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Heavy Equipment Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Heavy Equipment Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 38% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Heavy Equipment Technician positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Heavy Equipment Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Heavy Equipment Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$79,109$38.020%
Aerospace & Defense$73,835$35.012%
Construction$69,221$33.05%

Heavy Equipment Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Heavy Equipment Technician'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

Salary Trends for Heavy Equipment Technician

Salaries for a Heavy Equipment Technician can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,213 in 2023 to around $49,909 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Heavy Equipment Technician salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Heavy Equipment Technician Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,213
2024
$50,227
2025
$49,909
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,213
2024 $50,227
2025 $49,909
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Heavy Equipment Technician

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Heavy Equipment Technician

Here are companies hiring for Heavy Equipment Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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