Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $82,270 a year ($39.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,810 for the top 10%. That is 37% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 36% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $60,540. There are 3.1 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $77,930, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| 25th percentile | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| Median | $82,270 | $39.56 |
| 75th percentile | $94,250 | $45.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,810 | $48.47 |
| Average (mean) | $77,930 | $37.47 |
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 | $6,855.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,427.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,164.23 |
| Weekly | $1,582.12 |
| Hourly | $39.56 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,100 | 7,930 |
| Decatur, IL | $100,520 | 100 |
| Rockford, IL | $97,250 | 260 |
| Bloomington, IL | $96,250 | 180 |
| Springfield, IL | $95,310 | 210 |
| Kankakee, IL | $94,270 | 90 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $92,900 | 160 |
| Peoria, IL | $86,440 | 330 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $71,140 | 410 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,850 | 570 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $64,060 | 4,110 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $62,820 | 390 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $61,480 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $59,000 | 460 |
| Columbia, MO | $56,770 | 310 |
| Springfield, MO | $53,340 | 530 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $53,210 | 330 |
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. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Carpenter | $70,990 | $34.13 |
| Electrician | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $77,000 | $37.02 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $64,670 | $31.09 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,810 | $28.75 |
| Roofer | $58,750 | $28.25 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $77,490 | $37.26 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $81,640 | $39.25 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $79,240 | $38.10 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $59,040 | $28.39 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $76,800 | $36.93 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $71,730 | $34.48 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $82,270 a year, or $39.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $100,810 a year. The top 25% earn $94,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,210 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $58,600 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 4,190 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.