California · USD
California heavy equipment operator rates
Also called HEO, operator, equipment operator. Rates by SubTrack.
California rates sit well above most of the book. Prevailing wage, traffic control, and coastal access all land on the ticket. These USD ranges are public T&M charge-outs. Confirm against the project labor agreement before you bill. Heavy equipment operator charge-out is the labor line that rides with the iron. It is not the machine rate. OT and shift premiums belong on the rate sheet, not in a public median. In California, a heavy equipment operator typically bills $110 /hr (range $95 to $130, as of 2026-08). For a check against nearby markets, Nevada sits at $90 /hr, and Oregon sits at $100 /hr. These are public benchmarks. Your billable number lives on a SubTrack rate sheet.
Prices in USD. Fully loaded T&M charge-out, not wages.
California heavy equipment operator
| Trade | Unit | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Heavy Equipment Operator Operator billed separately from bare equipment rate. | /hr | $95 | $110 | $130 |
Nearby heavy equipment operator rates
California heavy equipment operator FAQ
What is the heavy equipment operator rate in California?
California heavy equipment operator charge-out is about $110 /hr (low $95, high $130, as of 2026-08). Also searched as HEO, operator, equipment operator. This is a fully loaded T&M range, not a wage.
Is this a rental or a T&M charge-out in California?
A T&M charge-out. Fuel, attachments, and mobilization are often extra. CA, Bay Area, LA, and Central Valley jobs still need the number that is on your sheet, not only this median.
Can I put this California heavy equipment operator number on an invoice?
No. This is a public benchmark. SubTrack rate sheets lock your heavy equipment operator class and premiums to the LEM so the field bills what the client signed.
How does California compare nearby?
Nevada median $90 /hr. Oregon median $100 /hr
The index is a benchmark. Rate sheets are how you bill.
Rates shows public charge-out ranges. SubTrack rate sheets lock your crew numbers into a template the field actually bills from, on every LEM.
One template, every job
Labor, equipment, materials, and subs live in one sheet. Assign it to a project and tickets read the same numbers.
OT and markup apply themselves
Standby, overtime, and markup rules ride with the sheet. The field does not retype them.
The client sees what they signed
Line items match the agreed rates. Fewer disputes, faster approvals.
Project rate sheet
Labor · assigned to the job
| Position | Reg. rate | OT rate |
|---|---|---|
| Foreman | $72/hr | $108/hr |
| Operator | $68/hr | $102/hr |
| Laborer | $35/hr | $52.50/hr |