The invention provides a hydraulic excavator which can inhibit generation of micro-vibrations of a control lever. The hydraulic excavator includes a first pilot pressure control valve (41A) which outputs pilot pressure according to the operation of the control lever, an upstream pilot pipeline (53a), one end of which is connected with the first pilot pressure control valve (41A), a proportional solenoid (73) which is connected with the other end of the upstream pilot pipeline (53a), a downstream pilot pipeline (53b), one end of which is connected with the upstream pilot pipeline (53a) is connected with the proportional solenoid (73), and a bucket rod pilot switching valve (37). The bucket rod pilot switching valve (37) has a second pilot opening (p2) which is connected with the other end of the downstream pilot pipeline (53b), and controls the operation of a bucket rod. The volume of the upstream pilot pipeline (53a) is larger than that of the downstream pilot pipeline (53b).