Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $62,540 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,076 take-home, or $4,256 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,325
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,877
- Medicare (1.45%)$907
- Arizona income tax$1,355
- Take-home pay$51,076
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% 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 Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,660 | $23.39 | $40,271 | $3,356 |
| 25th percentile | $52,400 | $25.19 | $43,182 | $3,599 |
| Median (50th) | $62,540 | $30.07 | $51,076 | $4,256 |
| 75th percentile | $67,530 | $32.47 | $54,858 | $4,571 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,220 | $39.05 | $64,147 | $5,346 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,540 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $51,076 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,437 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 Phoenix, AZ 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
Phoenix, AZ ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,540 | $51,076 | $49,437 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $62,540 a year, or about $30.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,400 and $67,530.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $62,540 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $51,076 a year ($4,256 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,355 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,437 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #23 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 Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 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 Phoenix, AZ
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $79,840
- Construction and Building Inspector — $76,650
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,750
- Electrician — $61,210
- Carpenter — $60,320
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $59,540
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $59,260
- Sheet Metal Worker — $51,230
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $48,860
- Roofer — $47,760
- Construction Laborer — $46,910