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Heavy equipment operators in District of Columbia: what they earn
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in District of Columbia earned a median $74,610 a year in May 2025, $35.87 an hour. 620 people held the job, 0.9 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 25% above the national figure of $59,850, and District of Columbia ranks 13 of 51 by pay for this trade.
The full wage spread in District of Columbia
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $24.30 | $50,540 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $31.47 | $65,450 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $35.87 | $74,610 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $41.48 | $86,280 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $47.25 | $98,270 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $36.77 | $76,470 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
Pay by metro area in District of Columbia
One metro area based in District of Columbia has a BLS estimate for heavy equipment operators: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 6,450 employed and a median $61,660 a year.
| Metro | Employed | Median annual | 10th pct | 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,450 | $61,660 | $46,580 | $84,180 |
Metropolitan statistical areas as BLS publishes them in the same May 2025 estimates. A metro that crosses a state line is listed only under its primary state, so part of a neighboring state's metro can sit outside this table. Areas outside any metro are not shown.
District of Columbia against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Alaska | $77,810 | 3,050 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $76,820 | 9,680 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $75,280 | 8,140 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $74,610 | 620 |
| 14 | Oregon | $73,430 | 5,630 |
| 15 | Nevada | $71,410 | 5,410 |
| 16 | Ohio | $64,940 | 16,920 |
The complete ranking is on the Heavy equipment operators page.
Against the national figure
| Figure | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $74,610 | $59,850 |
| Median hourly | $35.87 | $28.78 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $50,540 | $42,190 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $98,270 | $101,090 |
| Employed | 620 | 478,090 |
Other trades in District of Columbia
Electricians ($78,970) · Plumbers and pipefitters ($101,020) · HVAC technicians ($84,390) · Welders ($60,180) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($64,170) · Lineworkers (power-line installers) ($101,240) · Elevator installers ($122,570) · Ironworkers ($61,240) · Carpenters ($61,710) · Brickmasons and blockmasons ($64,450) · Auto service technicians ($68,660) · Diesel mechanics ($65,200) · Machinists ($72,900)
See all 14 ranked by pay in District of Columbia.
No state licensing records are sourced here for heavy equipment operators. The steps into the trade are on the Heavy equipment operators page. Numbers on this page are the May 2025 BLS estimates; see how the numbers are built.