Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median $61,750 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,983 take-home, or $4,165 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Salt Lake City, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,230
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,829
- Medicare (1.45%)$895
- Utah income tax$1,813
- Take-home pay$49,983
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
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 Salt Lake City, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,960 | $23.54 | $40,282 | $3,357 |
| 25th percentile | $57,610 | $27.70 | $46,843 | $3,904 |
| Median (50th) | $61,750 | $29.69 | $49,983 | $4,165 |
| 75th percentile | $66,830 | $32.13 | $53,804 | $4,484 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,420 | $37.70 | $61,436 | $5,120 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,750 buys in Salt Lake City, UT
Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $49,983 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,553 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 about as common in Salt Lake City, UT as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Salt Lake City, UT ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Salt Lake City, UT | $61,750 | $49,983 | $49,553 |
*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 Salt Lake City, UT?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $61,750 a year, or about $29.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,610 and $66,830.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT?
On the median $61,750 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $49,983 a year ($4,165 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,813 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,553 would in a typical U.S. city. Salt Lake City, UT ranks #22 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 Salt Lake City, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,426 a month ($1,717 for two bedrooms) — 34% 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 Salt Lake City, UT
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $78,730
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $64,800
- Electrician — $62,620
- Carpenter — $59,870
- Construction Laborer — $47,460