Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in Columbia, South Carolina — 2026 Data
Heavy Equipment Operators in Columbia, South Carolina earn an average of $50,580 per year ($24.32 per hour). The median (50th percentile) wage is $48,410 per year. That is 24% below the national average of $66,290. Data updated August 2026.
Methodology: Wage figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release data vintage (survey reference period May 2025), mapped from SOC occupation 47-2073 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators to the job title "Heavy Equipment Operator". Values are measured survey estimates for the Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area (MSA) — not modeled or interpolated. Year-over-year comparisons use the May 2024 OEWS release. The year shown in page titles is the publication and update year, not the data vintage.
Heavy Equipment Operator Pay in Columbia at a Glance
| Average (mean) annual salary | $50,580 |
|---|---|
| Average (mean) hourly rate | $24.32 per hour |
| Median (50th percentile) annual | $48,410 |
| Median hourly wage | $23.27 per hour |
| Entry-level pay (10th percentile) | $38,150 |
| Senior-level pay (90th percentile) | $62,230 |
| National average | $66,290 |
| Employment (Columbia, SC) | 1,120 workers |
| Data vintage | BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2073 |
Salary Percentiles for Heavy Equipment Operators in Columbia
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,150 | $18.34/hr |
| 25th percentile | $43,310 | $20.82/hr |
| 50th percentile (median) | $48,410 | $23.27/hr |
| 75th percentile | $56,270 | $27.05/hr |
| 90th percentile | $62,230 | $29.92/hr |
Explore More Heavy Equipment Operator Wage Data
Heavy Equipment Operator Salaries in Other South Carolina Cities
- Heavy Equipment Operator salary in Charleston, SC — $54,890
- Heavy Equipment Operator salary in Greenville, SC — $51,530
- Heavy Equipment Operator salary in San Francisco, CA — $110,300
- Heavy Equipment Operator salary in Urban Honolulu, HI — $104,010
- Heavy Equipment Operator salary in New York, NY — $100,710