Backhoe Operator

Backhoe Operator Salary

$33K

$53K

$88K

$56,952

/year

$27.38

/hour

Backhoe Operator Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$56,952

Columbus

Ohio

$55,010

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    How much does a Backhoe Operator make?

    As of Jul 17, 2026, the average annual pay for a Backhoe Operator in the United States is $56,952 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $27.38 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,095/week or $4,746/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $88,000 and as low as $33,000, the majority of Backhoe Operator salaries currently range between $46,500 (25th percentile) to $61,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $82,500 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Backhoe Operator varies greatly (by as much as 15000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    A Backhoe Operator in your area makes on average $55,010 per year, or $1,942 (3.410%) less than the national average annual salary of $56,952. Ohio ranks number 31 out of 50 states nationwide for Backhoe Operator salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Backhoe Operator jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as a Backhoe Operator on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Backhoe Operator Jobs

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Backhoe Operator job is above the national average. Topping the list is Nome, AK, , with California City, CA, and Berkeley, CA, close behind in the second and third positions. Berkeley, CA, beats the national average by $12,782 (22.4%), and Nome, AK, furthers that trend with another $13,697 (24.1%) above the $56,952 average.

    With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Backhoe Operator appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 6% between Nome, AK, and Daly City, CA, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Backhoe Operator role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Nome, AK

    $70,649

    $33.97

    California City, CA

    $69,849

    $33.58

    Berkeley, CA

    $69,734

    $33.53

    Rock River, WY

    $69,105

    $33.22

    San Carlos, CA

    $68,769

    $33.06

    Sitka, AK

    $68,609

    $32.99

    San Francisco, CA

    $67,099

    $32.26

    Santa Clara, CA

    $66,887

    $32.16

    Livermore, CA

    $66,804

    $32.12

    Daly City, CA

    $65,990

    $31.73

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Backhoe Operator Jobs in the U.S.

    Analyzing some similar jobs related to the Backhoe Operator job category, we found that Caterpillar Sales jobs have average salaries greater than Backhoe Operator jobs.

    Significantly, Caterpillar Sales jobs pay $5,489 (9.6%) more than the average Backhoe Operator salary of $56,952. If you're qualified, finding work as a Caterpillar Sales may help you make more money than that of the average Backhoe Operator position.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Caterpillar Sales

    $62,441

    $30.02

    Railroad Safety Inspector

    $54,939

    $26.41

    Construction Equipment

    $51,524

    $24.77

    Transportation Security Screener

    $42,299

    $20.34

    Grader Machine Operator

    $35,535

    $17.08

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing Backhoe Operator salary across the United States as of July 2026. Displays a bar chart with salary percentiles, a national average salary of $56,952 per year or $27.38 an hour, and a color-coded map showing state-by-state salary variations.