Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in New York, NY
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $95,050 a year — 59% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $71,130 take-home, or $5,927 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,081
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,893
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,378
- New York income tax$4,568
- Take-home pay$71,130
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $3,249 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $67,881 ($5,657 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,680 | $27.25 | $45,259 | $3,772 |
| 25th percentile | $71,170 | $34.22 | $55,652 | $4,638 |
| Median (50th) | $95,050 | $45.70 | $71,130 | $5,927 |
| 75th percentile | $129,600 | $62.31 | $93,241 | $7,770 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $154,040 | $74.06 | $108,504 | $9,042 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,050 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $71,130 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,191 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator jobs are less concentrated in New York, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.39), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #8 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 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in New York, NY?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $95,050 a year, or about $45.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $71,170 and $129,600.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $95,050 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $71,130 a year ($5,927 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,568 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 59% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,191 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #8 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 New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 40% 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 New York, NY
- Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer — $136,000
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $103,990
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $92,300
- Construction and Building Inspector — $90,800
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operator — $87,150
- Electrician — $79,020
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $78,610
- Sheet Metal Worker — $76,730
- Roofer — $76,400
- Carpenter — $74,300
- Hazardous Materials Removal Worker — $74,060
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $71,320