Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $82,190 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,256 take-home, or $5,355 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,252
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,096
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,192
- Indiana income tax$2,395
- Take-home pay$64,256
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $1,640 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $62,616 ($5,218 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
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 Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,650 | $23.87 | $40,639 | $3,387 |
| 25th percentile | $61,520 | $29.58 | $49,826 | $4,152 |
| Median (50th) | $82,190 | $39.51 | $64,256 | $5,355 |
| 75th percentile | $92,770 | $44.60 | $71,386 | $5,949 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,130 | $46.70 | $74,325 | $6,194 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,190 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $64,256 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,146 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 Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #4 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 |
*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 Indianapolis, IN?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $82,190 a year, or about $39.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,520 and $92,770.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $82,190 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $64,256 a year ($5,355 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,395 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,146 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #4 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 Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 23% 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 Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $85,300
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $76,980
- Electrician — $65,130
- Carpenter — $65,070
- Construction Laborer — $51,040