Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Minneapolis, MN
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median $83,340 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,316 take-home, or $5,276 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Minneapolis, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,505
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,167
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,208
- Minnesota income tax$4,144
- Take-home pay$63,316
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.80% state
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. 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 Minneapolis, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,100 | $28.89 | $47,907 | $3,992 |
| 25th percentile | $69,990 | $33.65 | $54,832 | $4,569 |
| Median (50th) | $83,340 | $40.07 | $63,316 | $5,276 |
| 75th percentile | $100,820 | $48.47 | $74,425 | $6,202 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,250 | $50.12 | $76,604 | $6,384 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,340 buys in Minneapolis, MN
Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 4.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $63,316 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,403 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 Minneapolis, MN than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Minneapolis, MN ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $83,340 | $63,316 | $60,403 |
*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 Minneapolis, MN?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $83,340 a year, or about $40.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,990 and $100,820.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN?
On the median $83,340 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $63,316 a year ($5,276 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,144 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Minneapolis, MN a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 4.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,403 would in a typical U.S. city. Minneapolis, MN ranks #10 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 Minneapolis, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Minneapolis, MN is $1,396 a month ($1,700 for two bedrooms) — 26% 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 Minneapolis, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $103,290
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $101,630
- Electrician — $81,890
- Carpenter — $74,060
- Construction Laborer — $61,970
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $60,850