Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Houston, TX
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $51,040 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,191 take-home, or $3,599 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,945
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,164
- Medicare (1.45%)$740
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,191
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 Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,170 | $18.83 | $33,653 | $2,804 |
| 25th percentile | $46,810 | $22.50 | $39,792 | $3,316 |
| Median (50th) | $51,040 | $24.54 | $43,191 | $3,599 |
| 75th percentile | $61,900 | $29.76 | $51,917 | $4,326 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,960 | $34.60 | $59,454 | $4,954 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,040 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $43,191 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,791 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.4× 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
Houston, TX ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $51,040 | $43,191 | $43,791 |
*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
- 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 Houston, TX?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $51,040 a year, or about $24.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,810 and $61,900.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $51,040 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $43,191 a year ($3,599 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, 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 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,791 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #29 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 Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 37% 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 Houston, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,020
- Construction and Building Inspector — $66,780
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,300
- Electrician — $59,180
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $58,030
- Sheet Metal Worker — $51,870
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas — $49,940
- Carpenter — $49,670
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall — $48,140
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas — $47,260
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $46,600
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $46,140