Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Kansas City, MO
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $64,060 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,579 take-home, or $4,298 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,507
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,972
- Medicare (1.45%)$929
- Missouri income tax$2,073
- Take-home pay$51,579
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $641 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $50,938 ($4,245 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,250 | $22.72 | $38,862 | $3,238 |
| 25th percentile | $50,580 | $24.32 | $41,381 | $3,448 |
| Median (50th) | $64,060 | $30.80 | $51,579 | $4,298 |
| 75th percentile | $89,580 | $43.07 | $68,577 | $5,715 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,840 | $46.56 | $73,343 | $6,112 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,060 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $51,579 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,735 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kansas City, MO has 1.2× the national concentration of operating engineer and other construction equipment operator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #15 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $124,750 | $87,539 | $75,717 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $103,100 | $76,402 | $73,751 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $95,750 | $76,190 | $68,558 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $82,190 | $64,256 | $67,146 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $82,270 | $63,778 | $67,072 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $78,950 | $62,983 | $65,972 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $91,650 | $67,820 | $63,580 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $95,050 | $71,130 | $63,191 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $64,060 | $51,579 | $55,735 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $82,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Kansas City, MO?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $64,060 a year, or about $30.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,580 and $89,580.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $64,060 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $51,579 a year ($4,298 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,073 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,735 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #15 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $84,100
- Electrician — $76,860
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $76,150
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,250
- Carpenter — $61,810
- Construction Laborer — $50,500