Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median of $46,430 a year ($22.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,550 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 3% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $47,880. There are 4.2 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,710, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Columbus, GA-AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 25th percentile | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Median | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| 75th percentile | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,550 | $27.19 |
| Average (mean) | $45,710 | $21.98 |
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 | $3,869.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,934.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,785.77 |
| Weekly | $892.88 |
| Hourly | $22.32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $54,330 | 2,070 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $50,320 | 750 |
| Decatur, AL | $49,470 | 290 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $49,430 | 8,360 |
| Huntsville, AL | $49,110 | 1,100 |
| Savannah, GA | $48,810 | 720 |
| Gainesville, GA | $48,350 | 300 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $48,190 | 670 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $48,110 | 240 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $47,710 | 650 |
| Hinesville, GA | $47,510 | 60 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $47,450 | 350 |
| Mobile, AL | $47,400 | 990 |
| Dothan, AL | $47,120 | 200 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $47,000 | 360 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $46,850 | 260 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $46,600 | 190 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $46,300 | 310 |
| Albany, GA | $45,460 | 260 |
| Montgomery, AL | $44,860 | 580 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $44,300 | 230 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $42,020 | 240 |
| Valdosta, GA | $41,500 | 190 |
| Dalton, GA | $40,860 | 200 |
| Gadsden, AL | $36,910 | 100 |
| Rome, GA | $36,400 | 150 |
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 Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA-AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $35,890 | $17.26 |
| Electrician | $50,730 | $24.39 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $47,410 | $22.79 |
| Carpenter | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $40,100 | $19.28 |
| Roofer | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $42,020 | $20.20 |
| Glazier | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $65,200 | $31.34 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $32,990 | $15.86 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $60,520 | $29.10 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, GA-AL
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 Columbus, GA-AL?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $46,430 a year, or $22.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn at least $56,550 a year. The top 25% earn $47,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Columbus, GA-AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,130 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $38,870 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Columbus, GA-AL?
About 490 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.