Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in St. Joseph, MO-KS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $62,820 a year ($30.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 390 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,490 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 4% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $60,540. There are 7.1 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,870 | $20.13 |
| 25th percentile | $48,100 | $23.12 |
| Median | $62,820 | $30.20 |
| 75th percentile | $82,940 | $39.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,490 | $44.47 |
| Average (mean) | $67,710 | $32.55 |
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 | $5,235 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,617.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,416.15 |
| Weekly | $1,208.08 |
| Hourly | $30.20 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $82,270 | 4,190 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $71,140 | 410 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $64,060 | 4,110 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $61,480 | 130 |
| Lawrence, KS | $60,080 | 120 |
| Manhattan, KS | $58,080 | 360 |
| Columbia, MO | $56,770 | 310 |
| Topeka, KS | $56,760 | 530 |
| Springfield, MO | $53,340 | 530 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $53,210 | 330 |
| Wichita, KS | $49,930 | 1,150 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $97,350 | $46.80 |
| Construction Laborer | $51,760 | $24.88 |
| Carpenter | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $68,290 | $32.83 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $83,060 | $39.93 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,480 | $28.12 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $51,230 | $24.63 |
| Roofer | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $90,030 | $43.28 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $47,760 | $22.96 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in St. Joseph, MO-KS
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. Joseph, MO-KS?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area is $62,820 a year, or $30.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn at least $92,490 a year. The top 25% earn $82,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,870 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $48,100 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
About 390 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.