Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Denver, CO
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $64,080 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,557 take-home, or $4,296 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,510
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,973
- Medicare (1.45%)$929
- Colorado income tax$2,111
- Take-home pay$51,557
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% 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 Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,470 | $25.23 | $42,739 | $3,562 |
| 25th percentile | $60,990 | $29.32 | $49,210 | $4,101 |
| Median (50th) | $64,080 | $30.81 | $51,557 | $4,296 |
| 75th percentile | $76,080 | $36.58 | $59,713 | $4,976 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,900 | $38.41 | $62,232 | $5,186 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,080 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $51,557 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,739 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | Denver, CO | $64,080 | $51,557 | $48,739 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $64,080 a year, or about $30.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,990 and $76,080.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $64,080 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $51,557 a year ($4,296 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,111 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,739 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #25 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 Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 41% 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 Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $83,400
- Carpenter — $64,910
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,900
- Electrician — $63,150
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,130
- Construction Laborer — $48,760