Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Dallas, TX
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $51,370 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,456 take-home, or $3,621 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,984
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,185
- Medicare (1.45%)$745
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,456
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 Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,700 | $20.05 | $35,686 | $2,974 |
| 25th percentile | $47,730 | $22.95 | $40,531 | $3,378 |
| Median (50th) | $51,370 | $24.70 | $43,456 | $3,621 |
| 75th percentile | $60,400 | $29.04 | $50,711 | $4,226 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,080 | $34.17 | $58,835 | $4,903 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,370 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $43,456 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,153 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 Dallas, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Dallas, TX | $51,370 | $43,456 | $42,153 |
*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
- Austin, TX — $50,960
- Houston, TX — $51,040
- San Antonio, TX — $48,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Dallas, TX?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $51,370 a year, or about $24.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,730 and $60,400.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $51,370 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $43,456 a year ($3,621 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,153 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #35 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 Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 44% 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 Dallas, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,230
- Construction and Building Inspector — $69,020
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,250
- Electrician — $59,010
- Sheet Metal Worker — $56,240
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $53,600
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $48,770
- Carpenter — $48,740
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $45,550
- Construction Laborer — $43,960