Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $50,820 a year ($24.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,240 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 3% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $49,310. There are 1.4 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $55,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| 25th percentile | $47,030 | $22.61 |
| Median | $50,820 | $24.44 |
| 75th percentile | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Average (mean) | $55,020 | $26.45 |
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 | $4,235 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,117.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,954.62 |
| Weekly | $977.31 |
| Hourly | $24.44 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,060 | 2,150 |
| Burlington, NC | $51,570 | 200 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $51,110 | 3,080 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,870 | 4,440 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $50,210 | 90 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $49,310 | 1,080 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $48,640 | 170 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $48,390 | 440 |
| Asheville, NC | $47,970 | 510 |
| Greenville, NC | $47,940 | 210 |
| Wilmington, NC | $47,910 | 790 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $47,590 | 770 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $47,340 | 370 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $47,180 | 220 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $46,930 | 180 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Construction Laborer | $46,560 | $22.38 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Carpenter | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Pipelayer | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $57,810 | $27.79 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Glazier | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,430 | $36.27 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $73,590 | $35.38 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $50,820 a year, or $24.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $71,240 a year. The top 25% earn $61,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,690 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $47,030 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 480 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.