BLS May 2025
Heavy Equipment Mechanic Salary by State
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (SOC 49-3042) earned a median of $65,510 a year in the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, and the middle 80 percent earned between $46,820 and $94,460. 176,600 wage and salary jobs sit behind those figures, and the highest state median is $82,670 in Alaska.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- $65,510 median annual wage for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (SOC 49-3042), BLS May 2025, or $31.50 an hour.
- $46,820 to $94,460 from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
- 176,600 jobs in the occupation, wage and salary workers only.
- Alaska has the highest state median at $82,670; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads the metropolitan areas at $95,980.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic Salary Percentiles
Annual wages for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (SOC 49-3042) across the United States, BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles are points in the wage distribution, not stages of a career, so the 10th percentile is not a starting salary.
| Measure | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,820 |
| 25th percentile | $56,970 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $65,510 |
| 75th percentile | $79,270 |
| 90th percentile | $94,460 |
| Mean | $69,240 |
| Median hourly wage | $31.50 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 176,600 |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic Salary by State
The ten highest state medians for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines show where a heavy equipment mechanic salary runs highest, among states with at least 500 jobs in the occupation. The states with the most jobs are California (20,080), Texas (20,080), Florida (9,240) and Arizona (7,040).
| State | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $82,670 | 1,430 |
| Nevada | $79,860 | 2,870 |
| Minnesota | $79,370 | 2,890 |
| Hawaii | $79,170 | 530 |
| Washington | $78,620 | 3,900 |
| California | $78,550 | 20,080 |
| Connecticut | $78,190 | 1,080 |
| New Jersey | $78,180 | 3,520 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 | 1,620 |
| North Dakota | $76,030 | 1,720 |
State pages carry the percentiles, the metropolitan areas and the five trades side by side for each of the 50 states, starting from the salary hub.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic Salary by Metro Area
The ten highest medians among the metropolitan areas with at least 500 jobs in the occupation. A metropolitan area that crosses state lines has one figure for the whole area.
| Metropolitan area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,980 | 510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95,410 | 2,370 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $81,290 | 1,630 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $81,090 | 1,930 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,000 | 6,610 |
| Anchorage, AK | $80,360 | 540 |
| Reno, NV | $78,970 | 600 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $78,520 | 1,260 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $78,060 | 4,380 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,800 | 1,110 |
The largest metropolitan areas by jobs are Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (6,610 jobs, median $81,000), Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (5,330 jobs, median $62,410), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (4,620 jobs, median $62,860) and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (4,460 jobs, median $63,440).
Heavy Equipment Mechanic Salary Compared With Other Trades
The heavy equipment mechanic salary beside the other four mechanic trades, each its own BLS occupation, May 2025.
| Trade | Median | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Mechanic SOC 49-3023 | $50,620 | $34,660 to $81,790 | 704,640 |
| Diesel Mechanic SOC 49-3031 | $61,770 | $44,530 to $88,740 | 289,960 |
| Aircraft Mechanic SOC 49-3011 | $79,870 | $48,780 to $128,890 | 138,090 |
| Collision Repair Technician SOC 49-3021 | $54,890 | $36,910 to $87,940 | 149,310 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic SOC 49-3042 | $65,510 | $46,820 to $94,460 | 176,600 |
What Shapes a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Salary
BLS says technicians generally buy their own hand tools over the course of a career, often investing thousands of dollars in their inventory, and that overtime is common. OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay, so overtime is not in the median.
Some manufacturers offer certification in specific repair methods or equipment. BLS says it is not required but can demonstrate competence and usually commands higher pay, and that trainees usually become fully qualified after 3 to 4 years of work.
Training and Career Guide for Heavy Equipment Mechanic
The heavy equipment mechanic career guide covers what the job is, the training routes and the credentials that apply. The accredited programs that train for it are ranked on this site.
Questions About Heavy Equipment Mechanic Salary
How much does a heavy equipment mechanic make?
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $65,510 a year for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (SOC 49-3042), or $31.50 an hour. The mean is $69,240. That is $14,890 above the median for automotive service technicians.
What is the lowest and highest pay for heavy equipment mechanics?
BLS reports pay by percentile rather than by years of experience. In May 2025, the lowest-paid tenth of mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines earned under $46,820 and the highest-paid tenth earned over $94,460. The 10th percentile is the occupation's low end, not a starting salary.
What is the average heavy equipment mechanic salary?
The median heavy equipment mechanic salary in the BLS May 2025 estimates is $65,510 a year, the middle of the distribution, and the mean is $69,240.
Which state pays heavy equipment mechanics the most?
Among states with at least 500 jobs in the occupation, Alaska has the highest May 2025 median for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines, $82,670, followed by Nevada ($79,860) and Minnesota ($79,370).
Do the figures include self-employed heavy equipment mechanics?
No. OEWS counts wage and salary jobs only, and BLS says its survey does not include the self-employed.
Sources for Heavy Equipment Mechanic Salary Data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines May 2025 national, state and metropolitan estimates, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes The survey covers wage and salary workers and not the self-employed.
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