Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Boston, MA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $76,940 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,330 take-home, or $4,944 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,097
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,770
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,116
- Massachusetts income tax$3,627
- Take-home pay$59,330
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. 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 Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,010 | $25.97 | $43,097 | $3,591 |
| 25th percentile | $62,620 | $30.11 | $49,584 | $4,132 |
| Median (50th) | $76,940 | $36.99 | $59,330 | $4,944 |
| 75th percentile | $114,410 | $55.00 | $83,817 | $6,985 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,860 | $60.51 | $91,218 | $7,602 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,940 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $59,330 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,800 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 Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $76,940 | $59,330 | $54,800 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $76,940 a year, or about $36.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,620 and $114,410.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $76,940 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $59,330 a year ($4,944 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,627 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,800 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #17 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 Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 46% 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 Boston, MA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $99,890
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $96,760
- Construction and Building Inspector — $84,620
- Electrician — $79,910
- Carpenter — $75,210
- Construction Laborer — $63,420
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,820