Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Seattle, WA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $95,750 a year — 60% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,190 take-home, or $6,349 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,235
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,937
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,388
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$76,190
Marginal rate: 22% 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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,830 | $28.76 | $50,253 | $4,188 |
| 25th percentile | $75,150 | $36.13 | $61,698 | $5,142 |
| Median (50th) | $95,750 | $46.03 | $76,190 | $6,349 |
| 75th percentile | $122,260 | $58.78 | $94,831 | $7,903 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,420 | $61.74 | $99,041 | $8,253 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,750 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $76,190 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,558 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 Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $95,750 a year, or about $46.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,150 and $122,260.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $95,750 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $76,190 a year ($6,349 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 60% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,558 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 32% 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 Seattle, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $121,130
- Electrician — $101,780
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $95,230
- Carpenter — $76,410
- Roofer — $64,090
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $60,440
- Construction Laborer — $59,740