Hourly pay in Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, union-negotiated rates on government-funded building jobs, and rates heavy equipment operators add themselves.
| Where | Newer (10th) | Median | Top (90th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $18.83 | $24.54 | $34.60 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | $20.05 | $24.70 | $34.17 |
| San Antonio | $19.15 | $23.44 | $33.67 |
| Austin | $19.43 | $24.50 | $34.32 |
| All of Texas | $18.70 | $24.26 | $33.66 |
An hour, for all workers in the occupation. BLS: “Someone new to the field may expect wages near the 10th or 25th percentile, whereas those with more experience and education could expect wages near the 75th or 90th percentile.” BLS ↗
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). bls.gov/oes ↗
In a 2026 survey of 1,500 U.S. trade workers, those with a card or license reported more income a year than those with none.
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On building projects paid for with federal money, contractors must pay at least the rate the U.S. Department of Labor sets for each county. A rate with a union local means, in the Labor Department's words, “a union rate was prevailing for that classification in the survey”: that local's contract rate.
Harris County (Houston)
A legal minimum from the government's survey, which “may include both union and non-union rates”. Survey rates can be years old, so compare them with the pay by metro above.
Building construction, wage determination TX20260253, modification 1 (May 18, 2026). SAM.gov ↗
Dallas County (Dallas–Fort Worth)
Post your job free, with its pay, where Texas heavy equipment operators are looking.
Post a job free →By how they learned the trade: a median of $91,000 for those who went through an apprenticeship and $65,000 for self-taught workers. Only 14% had completed an apprenticeship.
Yearly income, all trades across the U.S. (not only Texas or heavy equipment operators). It shows who earns more, not that a card alone raises pay.
ZipRecruiter Trade Worker Survey, 2026 (1,500 U.S. trade workers, May 25 to June 11, 2026), published July 8, 2026. ZipRecruiter ↗
A legal minimum from the government's survey, which “may include both union and non-union rates”. Survey rates can be years old, so compare them with the pay by metro above.
Building construction, wage determination TX20260241, modification 1 (May 18, 2026). SAM.gov ↗
Tarrant County (Dallas–Fort Worth)
A legal minimum from the government's survey, which “may include both union and non-union rates”. Survey rates can be years old, so compare them with the pay by metro above.
Building construction, wage determination TX20260270, modification 1 (May 18, 2026). SAM.gov ↗
Bexar County (San Antonio)
A legal minimum from the government's survey, which “may include both union and non-union rates”. Survey rates can be years old, so compare them with the pay by metro above.
Building construction, wage determination TX20260231, modification 1 (May 18, 2026). SAM.gov ↗
Travis County (Austin)
A legal minimum from the government's survey, which “may include both union and non-union rates”. Survey rates can be years old, so compare them with the pay by metro above.
Building construction, wage determination TX20260271, modification 1 (May 18, 2026). SAM.gov ↗
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