Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in the U.S.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $59,850 a year ($28.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 478,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,090 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $66,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,190 | $20.28 |
| 25th percentile | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Median | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| 75th percentile | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,090 | $48.60 |
| Average (mean) | $66,290 | $31.87 |
Half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,987.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,493.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,301.92 |
| Weekly | $1,150.96 |
| Hourly | $28.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $97,740 | 12,290 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | 5,980 |
| California | $87,160 | 36,020 |
| Washington | $81,700 | 10,290 |
| New York | $80,980 | 14,490 |
| Indiana | $79,580 | 11,520 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 | 8,590 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | 2,860 |
| Alaska | $77,810 | 3,050 |
| Massachusetts | $76,820 | 9,680 |
| Wisconsin | $75,280 | 8,140 |
| District of Columbia | $74,610 | 620 |
| Oregon | $73,430 | 5,630 |
| Nevada | $71,410 | 5,410 |
| Ohio | $64,940 | 16,920 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | 970 |
| Wyoming | $62,960 | 3,800 |
| Michigan | $62,690 | 9,500 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | 11,700 |
| New Hampshire | $62,200 | 1,330 |
| North Dakota | $62,150 | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $61,680 | 4,270 |
| Montana | $61,580 | 3,750 |
| Maryland | $61,410 | 6,610 |
| Utah | $60,740 | 7,880 |
| Arizona | $60,620 | 13,200 |
| Missouri | $60,540 | 10,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,530 | 22,120 |
| Iowa | $60,330 | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $59,500 | 2,050 |
| Vermont | $58,870 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $58,360 | 3,180 |
| Delaware | $58,020 | 1,230 |
| Kentucky | $57,780 | 7,050 |
| Virginia | $57,160 | 12,100 |
| Maine | $56,140 | 2,210 |
| New Mexico | $52,000 | 5,520 |
| Tennessee | $52,000 | 10,660 |
| Louisiana | $51,700 | 7,860 |
| Kansas | $51,620 | 7,070 |
| West Virginia | $51,300 | 7,830 |
| Texas | $50,460 | 55,540 |
| Florida | $49,400 | 27,510 |
| North Carolina | $49,310 | 16,580 |
| South Carolina | $48,940 | 8,160 |
| Oklahoma | $47,970 | 7,050 |
| Georgia | $47,880 | 15,700 |
| Virgin Islands | $47,650 | 120 |
| Alabama | $47,520 | 9,640 |
| Mississippi | $47,410 | 4,170 |
| Arkansas | $44,520 | 5,800 |
| Guam | $39,170 | 650 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,810 | 2,400 |
Best-paying metro areas for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $124,990 | 400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $124,750 | 4,080 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $124,340 | 1,360 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $117,630 | 1,430 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $105,080 | 710 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,100 | 7,930 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $103,060 | 260 |
| Decatur, IL | $100,520 | 100 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $98,120 | 170 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $97,770 | 420 |
| Rockford, IL | $97,250 | 260 |
| Bloomington, IL | $96,250 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95,750 | 4,860 |
| Springfield, IL | $95,310 | 210 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,100 | 630 |
Metro areas with the most operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 14,000 | $51,040 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 11,510 | $51,370 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,430 | $95,050 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 8,780 | $92,890 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 8,360 | $49,430 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 7,980 | $62,540 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,930 | $103,100 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,450 | $61,660 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,370 | $76,940 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,850 | $51,800 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,620 | $66,810 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 5,150 | $64,080 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 5,050 | $62,320 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 5,010 | $50,960 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,860 | $95,750 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $53,340 | $25.64 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2073. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S. is $59,850 a year, or $28.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S. earn at least $101,090 a year. The top 25% earn $77,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,190 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $48,680 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in the U.S.?
About 478,090 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.