Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in St. Cloud, MN
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the St. Cloud, MN metro area earn a median $79,530 a year — 33% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,895 take-home, or $5,075 a month.
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- Federal income tax$8,667
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,931
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,153
- Minnesota income tax$3,885
- Take-home pay$60,895
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.80% state
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator pay by experience in St. Cloud, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,980 | $28.36 | $47,083 | $3,924 |
| 25th percentile | $62,630 | $30.11 | $49,768 | $4,147 |
| Median (50th) | $79,530 | $38.24 | $60,895 | $5,075 |
| 75th percentile | $98,390 | $47.30 | $72,880 | $6,073 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,390 | $47.30 | $72,880 | $6,073 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,530 buys in St. Cloud, MN
Prices in St. Cloud, MN are 12.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $60,895 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,489 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Cloud, MN has 2.2× 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
St. Cloud, MN ranks #7 of 180 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $124,340 | $87,302 | $79,061 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $117,630 | $84,173 | $75,858 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $124,750 | $87,539 | $75,717 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $103,100 | $76,402 | $73,751 |
| 5 | Evansville, IN | $84,500 | $65,813 | $71,904 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa, CA | $105,080 | $75,845 | $70,367 |
| 7 | St. Cloud, MN | $79,530 | $60,895 | $69,489 |
| 8 | Appleton, WI | $83,010 | $64,209 | $69,475 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 180 metros →
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salaries elsewhere in Minnesota
- Duluth, MN — $75,040
- Minneapolis, MN — $83,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in St. Cloud, MN?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the St. Cloud, MN metro area is $79,530 a year, or about $38.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,630 and $98,390.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in St. Cloud, MN?
On the median $79,530 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $60,895 a year ($5,075 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,885 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is St. Cloud, MN a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 33% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 12.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,489 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Cloud, MN ranks #7 of 180 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator afford rent in St. Cloud, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Cloud, MN is $919 a month ($1,206 for two bedrooms) — 18% 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 St. Cloud, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $95,860
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $90,230
- Electrician — $81,890
- Carpenter — $60,600
- Construction Laborer — $57,820