Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Lafayette, LA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median of $49,800 a year ($23.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,230 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 4% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $51,700. There are 2.1 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $54,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Lafayette, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,160 | $18.34 |
| 25th percentile | $46,310 | $22.27 |
| Median | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| 75th percentile | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,230 | $35.69 |
| Average (mean) | $54,630 | $26.26 |
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 | $4,150 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,075 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,915.38 |
| Weekly | $957.69 |
| Hourly | $23.94 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $58,240 | 1,150 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $58,210 | 2,260 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $51,000 | 750 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $50,580 | 250 |
| Hammond, LA | $49,870 | 90 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $49,270 | 410 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $48,990 | 710 |
| Monroe, LA | $46,000 | 230 |
| Alexandria, LA | $44,570 | 260 |
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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| Electrician | $59,820 | $28.76 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| Carpenter | $47,440 | $22.81 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $43,470 | $20.90 |
| Boilermaker | $70,720 | $34.00 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $52,090 | $25.04 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $53,890 | $25.91 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Roofer | $47,890 | $23.03 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $40,580 | $19.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $71,980 | $34.60 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $49,970 | $24.02 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette, LA
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 Lafayette, LA?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $49,800 a year, or $23.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Lafayette, LA?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn at least $74,230 a year. The top 25% earn $60,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Lafayette, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,160 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $46,310 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Lafayette, LA?
About 370 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Lafayette, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.