Heavy Equipment Operator (government) in Washington: Pay Plan

$49,296 – $87,576

state pay plan range, a year

classes in the state plan

$81,700

median pay in WA, all employers

10,290

workers in WA (SOC 47-2073)

Sources: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Washington state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Washington sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and grade	Published rate
Equipment Operator 1 Class 618R · class description Grade 41E · General Service Salary Schedule	$49,296 – $59,760 a year 9 steps Step E: $49,296 a year Step F: $50,412 a year Step G: $51,600 a year Step H: $52,872 a year Step I: $54,204 a year Step J: $55,596 a year Step K: $56,952 a year Step L: $58,392 a year Step M: $59,760 a year
Equipment Operator 2 Class 618S · class description Grade 45G · General Service Salary Schedule	$56,952 – $66,072 a year 7 steps Step G: $56,952 a year Step H: $58,392 a year Step I: $59,760 a year Step J: $61,332 a year Step K: $62,880 a year Step L: $64,512 a year Step M: $66,072 a year
Grade 48G · Teamsters Local 117 Standard Progression General Service Salary Schedule	$75,504 – $87,576 a year 7 steps Step G: $75,504 a year Step H: $77,424 a year Step I: $79,380 a year Step J: $81,324 a year Step K: $83,340 a year Step L: $85,368 a year Step M: $87,576 a year
Equipment Operator Lead Class 618T · class description Grade 48G · General Service Salary Schedule	$61,332 – $71,136 a year 7 steps Step G: $61,332 a year Step H: $62,880 a year Step I: $64,512 a year Step J: $66,072 a year Step K: $67,704 a year Step L: $69,348 a year Step M: $71,136 a year

Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) in Washington, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

Measure	WA
Workers	10,290
10th percentile	$57,200
Median	$81,700
90th percentile	$125,490
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.

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Heavy Equipment Operator (government) page.

Heavy Equipment Operator (government) in Washington

Washington state pay plan Sourced

Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced

More about this job

Heavy Equipment Operator (government) in other states