Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Wheeling, WV-OH
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median of $58,250 a year ($28.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 500 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,420 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 14% higher than the West Virginia statewide median of $51,300. There are 8.5 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $61,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| 25th percentile | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Median | $58,250 | $28.01 |
| 75th percentile | $77,160 | $37.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,420 | $44.43 |
| Average (mean) | $61,920 | $29.77 |
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 | $4,854.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,427.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,240.38 |
| Weekly | $1,120.19 |
| Hourly | $28.01 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $78,950 | 3,290 |
| Cleveland, OH | $71,740 | 2,660 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $66,950 | 3,120 |
| Mansfield, OH | $66,100 | 190 |
| Toledo, OH | $64,380 | 780 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $64,050 | 710 |
| Akron, OH | $63,920 | 830 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,660 | 6,450 |
| Sandusky, OH | $60,380 | 240 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $60,010 | 530 |
| Beckley, WV | $59,700 | 480 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $59,210 | 420 |
| Lima, OH | $58,860 | 130 |
| Charleston, WV | $57,640 | 940 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $57,320 | 1,040 |
| Springfield, OH | $57,230 | 100 |
| Morgantown, WV | $52,970 | 530 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $51,290 | 310 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $50,800 | 380 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $50,790 | 260 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $47,450 | 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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wheeling, WV-OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Electrician | $66,970 | $32.20 |
| Carpenter | $50,120 | $24.10 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $64,060 | $30.80 |
| Roofer | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $51,200 | $24.62 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $73,880 | $35.52 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $66,680 | $32.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,310 | $46.79 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $81,100 | $38.99 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $66,300 | $31.87 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $62,970 | $30.27 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $43,080 | $20.71 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Wheeling, WV-OH
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 Wheeling, WV-OH?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $58,250 a year, or $28.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Wheeling, WV-OH?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn at least $92,420 a year. The top 25% earn $77,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Wheeling, WV-OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,020 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $45,670 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Wheeling, WV-OH?
About 500 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.