Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $71,430 a year ($34.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,140 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 5% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $75,280. 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 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $72,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,660 | $23.40 |
| 25th percentile | $59,070 | $28.40 |
| Median | $71,430 | $34.34 |
| 75th percentile | $93,120 | $44.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,140 | $48.15 |
| Average (mean) | $72,830 | $35.01 |
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 | $5,952.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,976.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,747.31 |
| Weekly | $1,373.65 |
| Hourly | $34.34 |
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 |
| Appleton, WI | $83,010 | 480 |
| Rochester, MN | $79,580 | 290 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $79,530 | 700 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $79,430 | 2,070 |
| Mankato, MN | $78,560 | 150 |
| 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 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $66,320 | 240 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $64,290 | 100 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $61,690 | 960 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $61,520 | 370 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $60,960 | 630 |
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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| Carpenter | $58,950 | $28.34 |
| Electrician | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $82,610 | $39.72 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $60,860 | $29.26 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,490 | $23.79 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $75,190 | $36.15 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $100,160 | $48.16 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $54,830 | $26.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $77,500 | $37.26 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $74,560 | $35.85 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $71,430 a year, or $34.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $100,140 a year. The top 25% earn $93,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,660 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $59,070 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 120 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.