Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Austin, TX
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $50,960 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,126 take-home, or $3,594 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,935
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,160
- Medicare (1.45%)$739
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,126
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% 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 Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,420 | $19.43 | $34,657 | $2,888 |
| 25th percentile | $48,020 | $23.09 | $40,764 | $3,397 |
| Median (50th) | $50,960 | $24.50 | $43,126 | $3,594 |
| 75th percentile | $61,120 | $29.38 | $51,290 | $4,274 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,390 | $34.32 | $59,053 | $4,921 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,960 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $43,126 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,977 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Austin, TX has 1.3× 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
Austin, TX ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Austin, TX | $50,960 | $43,126 | $43,977 |
*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 Texas
- Houston, TX — $51,040
- San Antonio, TX — $48,750
- Dallas, TX — $51,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Austin, TX?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $50,960 a year, or about $24.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,020 and $61,120.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $50,960 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $43,126 a year ($3,594 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,977 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #28 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 Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 43% 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 Austin, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,800
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $62,810
- Electrician — $60,390
- Carpenter — $50,260
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $49,410
- Construction Laborer — $44,000