Excavation costs and wages in Washington
What equipment operators and construction laborers earn in Washington, how many excavation contractors are listed here and in which counties, and the state's licensing rules. Job prices aren't published for any one state, so our price ranges are national.
Checked October 2, 2026
Wages in Washington
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Washington earn a median of $39.28 an hour, or $81,700 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $30.96 and $55.12 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 10,290 of these jobs in Washington. That's above the national median of $28.78 an hour (BLS).
Construction laborers in Washington earn a median of $27.75 an hour, or $57,720 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $22.56 and $34.69 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 25,060 of these jobs in Washington. That's above the national median of $22.66 an hour (BLS).
These are wages, not prices. A contractor's price also covers materials, equipment, insurance, overhead and profit, so a wage can't be turned into what a job costs you. BLS counts employees only, not the self-employed.
Contractors in Washington
Washington has 1,579 excavation contractors listed, and 1,392 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Of the counties with pages of their own, the largest are Snohomish County (167), King County (135), Pierce County (129), Spokane County (117) and Kitsap County (74). Browse them by county, or ask for quotes and we'll match you with excavation contractors near you.
Permits and rules in Washington
Washington licenses contractors through the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), contractor registration (Register as a Contractor - Washington State Department of Labor & Industries; Application For Construction Contractor Registration (F625-001-000)).
National price ranges
National price ranges for excavation, clearing, grading and driveway work, each credited to its source, are in our guides to excavation, land clearing, grading and driveway costs.
For a planning range on your own job, run the estimator.
Washington against the national range
Published labor data puts the West roughly 20% above the Southeast (SiteX).
That's an average across a region, not a price for your job, and local quotes vary inside it.
Get quotes from contractors in your county
One request instead of calling contractors one at a time. We'll match you with an excavation contractor near you. It's free, and you don't have to hire anyone.
Cite this page
“Excavation costs and wages in Washington.” LeaderExcavation.com, updated October 2, 2026. https://leaderexcavation.com/wa/costs/