Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators earn a median $59,850 a year nationally. Construction and Extraction Occupations
U.S. median
$59,850
$28.77 per hour
Range
$42,190 – $101,090
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
478,090
across the U.S.
▲1.9%
Pay trend: The median for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S. rose from $58,710 (May 2024) to $59,850 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What operating engineers and other construction equipment operators do
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)
- Openings per year
- 39,200
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators is projected to grow 4.6% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 39,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$50,269
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,189Monthly
$2,095Twice a month
$1,933Every 2 weeks
$24.17Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,002
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,711
- Medicare (1.45%)$868
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$50,269
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,190 | $20.28 | $36,080 |
| 25th percentile | $48,680 | $23.40 | $41,294 |
| Median (50th) | $59,850 | $28.77 | $50,269 |
| 75th percentile | $77,170 | $37.10 | $63,119 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,090 | $48.60 | $79,947 |
Best cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $124,750 | $87,539 | $75,717 | 4,080 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $103,100 | $76,402 | $73,751 | 7,930 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $95,750 | $76,190 | $68,558 | 4,860 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $82,190 | $64,256 | $67,146 | 3,700 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $82,270 | $63,778 | $67,072 | 4,190 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $78,950 | $62,983 | $65,972 | 3,290 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $91,650 | $67,820 | $63,580 | 2,920 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $95,050 | $71,130 | $63,191 | 11,430 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $71,740 | $58,109 | $61,868 | 2,660 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $83,340 | $63,316 | $60,403 | 4,270 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $92,890 | $68,561 | $60,371 | 8,780 |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | $66,950 | $54,871 | $57,534 | 3,120 |
| 13 | Riverside, CA | $78,720 | $60,095 | $56,458 | 4,740 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $83,670 | $63,052 | $56,354 | 3,130 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $64,060 | $51,579 | $55,735 | 4,110 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $79,040 | $58,348 | $55,348 | 3,040 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $76,940 | $59,330 | $54,800 | 6,370 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $68,130 | $54,115 | $53,954 | 3,790 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $63,910 | $53,532 | $53,417 | 2,460 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $62,320 | $50,341 | $53,175 | 5,050 |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,810 | $53,780 | $52,440 | 5,620 |
| 22 | Salt Lake City, UT | $61,750 | $49,983 | $49,553 | 2,570 |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,540 | $51,076 | $49,437 | 7,980 |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $56,030 | $47,200 | $48,994 | 3,820 |
| 25 | Denver, CO | $64,080 | $51,557 | $48,739 | 5,150 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $124,750
- Chicago, IL — $103,100
- Seattle, WA — $95,750
- New York, NY — $95,050
- Los Angeles, CA — $92,890
- Sacramento, CA — $91,650
- San Diego, CA — $83,670
- Minneapolis, MN — $83,340
- St. Louis, MO — $82,270
- Indianapolis, IN — $82,190
- Portland, OR — $79,040
- Columbus, OH — $78,950
- Riverside, CA — $78,720
- Boston, MA — $76,940
- Cleveland, OH — $71,740
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 | +9.9% | $83,062 | $62,390 – $129,590 | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $97,740 | +0.8% | $72,897 | $49,770 – $123,330 | 12,290 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | +6.5% | $68,384 | $50,760 – $133,330 | 5,980 |
| California | $87,160 | −2.2% | $65,138 | $52,760 – $132,210 | 36,020 |
| Washington | $81,700 | +3.2% | $66,306 | $57,200 – $125,490 | 10,290 |
| New York | $80,980 | +0.9% | $62,024 | $50,190 – $144,920 | 14,490 |
| Indiana | $79,580 | +10.0% | $62,496 | $47,630 – $98,850 | 11,520 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 | +0.7% | $60,641 | $55,960 – $101,930 | 8,590 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | +2.7% | $61,474 | $60,000 – $106,920 | 2,860 |
| Alaska | $77,810 | +3.7% | $63,569 | $62,390 – $103,900 | 3,050 |
| Massachusetts | $76,820 | +5.5% | $59,252 | $52,630 – $125,400 | 9,680 |
| Wisconsin | $75,280 | +3.6% | $59,180 | $51,370 – $100,140 | 8,140 |
| District of Columbia | $74,610 | +8.1% | $57,915 | $50,540 – $98,270 | 620 |
| Oregon | $73,430 | +7.7% | $54,893 | $53,410 – $117,310 | 5,630 |
| Nevada | $71,410 | −1.9% | $59,067 | $51,050 – $111,210 | 5,410 |
| Ohio | $64,940 | +4.1% | $53,356 | $46,850 – $98,100 | 16,920 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | −16.3% | $51,522 | $52,460 – $98,870 | 970 |
| Wyoming | $62,960 | −0.9% | $52,768 | $48,370 – $85,630 | 3,800 |
| Michigan | $62,690 | +0.2% | $50,138 | $46,370 – $90,580 | 9,500 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | +1.7% | $50,448 | $49,480 – $78,870 | 11,700 |
| New Hampshire | $62,200 | −0.9% | $52,158 | $49,770 – $87,730 | 1,330 |
| North Dakota | $62,150 | −1.0% | $52,118 | $49,840 – $100,570 | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $61,680 | +4.3% | $49,579 | $47,230 – $79,650 | 4,270 |
| Montana | $61,580 | +2.4% | $49,522 | $48,130 – $79,880 | 3,750 |
| Maryland | $61,410 | +1.3% | $48,970 | $46,760 – $78,870 | 6,610 |
| Utah | $60,740 | +1.6% | $49,217 | $47,420 – $75,880 | 7,880 |
| Arizona | $60,620 | +1.2% | $49,581 | $47,680 – $79,460 | 13,200 |
| Missouri | $60,540 | +0.8% | $48,916 | $43,290 – $94,130 | 10,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,530 | +3.3% | $48,958 | $46,780 – $94,930 | 22,120 |
| Iowa | $60,330 | −1.4% | $49,014 | $46,690 – $87,460 | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $59,500 | +4.9% | $49,988 | $47,260 – $75,880 | 2,050 |
| Vermont | $58,870 | +4.6% | $47,944 | $50,270 – $73,860 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $58,360 | +2.0% | $47,296 | $44,620 – $75,700 | 3,180 |
| Delaware | $58,020 | +2.5% | $46,256 | $39,090 – $97,520 | 1,230 |
| Kentucky | $57,780 | +1.3% | $46,702 | $44,620 – $80,890 | 7,050 |
| Virginia | $57,160 | +9.4% | $45,635 | $40,870 – $78,250 | 12,100 |
| Maine | $56,140 | +1.8% | $44,681 | $46,200 – $75,390 | 2,210 |
| New Mexico | $52,000 | +5.8% | $42,684 | $44,800 – $69,690 | 5,520 |
| Tennessee | $52,000 | +6.0% | $43,962 | $41,600 – $75,430 | 10,660 |
| Louisiana | $51,700 | +4.1% | $42,556 | $37,440 – $75,180 | 7,860 |
| Kansas | $51,620 | +2.0% | $41,576 | $39,520 – $85,420 | 7,070 |
| West Virginia | $51,300 | +2.6% | $41,821 | $36,500 – $76,970 | 7,830 |
| Texas | $50,460 | +1.6% | $42,725 | $38,900 – $70,010 | 55,540 |
| Florida | $49,400 | +1.3% | $41,873 | $38,820 – $64,020 | 27,510 |
| North Carolina | $49,310 | +0.8% | $40,342 | $39,050 – $64,450 | 16,580 |
| South Carolina | $48,940 | +3.1% | $39,724 | $38,720 – $64,330 | 8,160 |
| Oklahoma | $47,970 | +1.7% | $39,111 | $37,440 – $64,380 | 7,050 |
| Georgia | $47,880 | +3.2% | $38,789 | $37,810 – $62,840 | 15,700 |
| Alabama | $47,520 | +1.4% | $38,251 | $36,230 – $67,690 | 9,640 |
| Mississippi | $47,410 | +3.0% | $39,110 | $36,180 – $67,030 | 4,170 |
| Arkansas | $44,520 | −1.4% | $36,428 | $35,520 – $58,670 | 5,800 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $53,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.9% |
| Pile Driver Operator | $73,300 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.7% |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.9% |
| Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker | $58,970 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.3% |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer | $58,930 | No formal educational credential | +2.5% |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $58,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.1% |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Plasterer and Stucco Mason | $57,660 | No formal educational credential | +2.8% |
| Brickmason and Blockmason | $62,120 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.1% |
| Stonemason | $57,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.4% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make?
The national median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators is $59,850 a year ($28.77 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,190 and the top 10% earn over $101,090. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays operating engineers and other construction equipment operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest median pay at $115,860. After taxes and local prices, San Francisco, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are there in the U.S.?
About 478,090 people work as operating engineers and other construction equipment operators nationwide.
All 37 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC