Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in St. Cloud, MN
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the St. Cloud, MN metro area earn a median of $79,530 a year ($38.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 700 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,390 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 1% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $79,130. There are 6.7 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $78,110, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in St. Cloud, MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,980 | $28.35 |
| 25th percentile | $62,630 | $30.11 |
| Median | $79,530 | $38.24 |
| 75th percentile | $98,390 | $47.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,390 | $47.31 |
| Average (mean) | $78,110 | $37.55 |
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 | $6,627.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,313.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,058.85 |
| Weekly | $1,529.42 |
| Hourly | $38.24 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $83,340 | 4,270 |
| Rochester, MN | $79,580 | 290 |
| Mankato, MN | $78,560 | 150 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $75,040 | 770 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $71,430 | 120 |
| 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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Cloud, MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $57,820 | $27.80 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $90,230 | $43.38 |
| Electrician | $81,890 | $39.37 |
| Carpenter | $60,600 | $29.14 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $61,100 | $29.37 |
| Roofer | $79,250 | $38.10 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $100,520 | $48.33 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $85,530 | $41.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $95,860 | $46.09 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $79,670 | $38.30 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in St. Cloud, 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 St. Cloud, MN?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the St. Cloud, MN metro area is $79,530 a year, or $38.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in St. Cloud, MN?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the St. Cloud, MN metro area earn at least $98,390 a year. The top 25% earn $98,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in St. Cloud, MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,980 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $62,630 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in St. Cloud, MN?
About 700 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the St. Cloud, MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.