Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $97,770 a year ($47.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,770 for the top 10%. That is 63% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 62% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $60,330. There are 5.0 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $82,640, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,130 | $26.50 |
| 25th percentile | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Median | $97,770 | $47.01 |
| 75th percentile | $97,770 | $47.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,770 | $47.01 |
| Average (mean) | $82,640 | $39.73 |
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 | $8,147.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,073.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,760.38 |
| Weekly | $1,880.19 |
| Hourly | $47.01 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,850 | 570 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $63,310 | 490 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $62,610 | 1,260 |
| Ames, IA | $62,400 | 190 |
| Dubuque, IA | $62,250 | 160 |
| Iowa City, IA | $60,530 | 210 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $60,020 | 1,380 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $59,140 | 200 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $49,950 | $24.01 |
| Electrician | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| Carpenter | $55,840 | $26.85 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $63,240 | $30.40 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,860 | $28.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $77,760 | $37.39 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $59,380 | $28.55 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $71,330 | $34.30 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $97,770 a year, or $47.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $97,770 a year. The top 25% earn $97,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,130 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $61,740 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 420 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.