Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Appleton, WI
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $83,010 a year ($39.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,330 for the top 10%. That is 39% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 10% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $75,280. There are 3.8 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $81,940, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,520 | $27.65 |
| 25th percentile | $67,580 | $32.49 |
| Median | $83,010 | $39.91 |
| 75th percentile | $95,210 | $45.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,330 | $47.75 |
| Average (mean) | $81,940 | $39.40 |
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 | $6,917.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,458.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,192.69 |
| Weekly | $1,596.35 |
| Hourly | $39.91 |
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 in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WI | $90,900 | 200 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $90,320 | 280 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $83,340 | 4,270 |
| Madison, WI | $83,060 | 680 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $79,430 | 2,070 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $77,020 | 150 |
| Green Bay, WI | $76,290 | 420 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $75,970 | 260 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $75,040 | 770 |
| Kenosha, WI | $73,190 | 120 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $71,560 | 160 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $71,430 | 120 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $66,320 | 240 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $64,290 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 |
| Illinois | $97,740 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 |
| California | $87,160 |
| Washington | $81,700 |
| New York | $80,980 |
| Indiana | $79,580 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 |
| Alaska | $77,810 |
See Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $59,260 | $28.49 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $91,750 | $44.11 |
| Electrician | $66,830 | $32.13 |
| Carpenter | $62,490 | $30.04 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $81,400 | $39.14 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $68,990 | $33.17 |
| Roofer | $61,880 | $29.75 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $93,960 | $45.17 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $85,580 | $41.14 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $78,260 | $37.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $98,970 | $47.58 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $60,840 | $29.25 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Appleton, WI
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 Appleton, WI?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Appleton, WI metro area is $83,010 a year, or $39.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $99,330 a year. The top 25% earn $95,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,520 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $67,580 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Appleton, WI?
About 480 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.