Sources: Mississippi State Personnel Board, Mississippi Variable Compensation Plan FY 2027 and MSPB Career Catalog; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Mississippi state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Mississippi sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Heavy Equipment Operator I Class 9852 · class description Grade MS05 | $26,186 – $46,020 a year |
| Heavy Equipment Operator II Class 9853 · class description Grade MS07 | $31,111 – $54,676 a year |
| Heavy Equipment Operator III Class 9854 · class description Grade MS10 | $40,286 – $70,801 a year |
Schedule: Mississippi General Pay Plan (FY 2027). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Mississippi State Personnel Board, Mississippi Variable Compensation Plan FY 2027 and MSPB Career Catalog. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Mississippi, all employers Sourced
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) in Mississippi, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | MS |
|---|---|
| Workers | 4,170 |
| 10th percentile | $36,180 |
| Median | $47,410 |
| 90th percentile | $67,030 |
| National median, government employers | $52,750 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Mississippi
Mississippi Commercial Driver License General Knowledge TestMississippi version · free on Open Exam Prep- CDL Air Brakes Knowledge TestPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL) General Knowledge ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Heavy Equipment Operator (government) page.