Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Tampa, FL
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $50,300 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,596 take-home, or $3,550 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,856
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,119
- Medicare (1.45%)$729
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,596
Marginal rate: 12% 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 Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,390 | $19.42 | $34,633 | $2,886 |
| 25th percentile | $47,200 | $22.69 | $40,105 | $3,342 |
| Median (50th) | $50,300 | $24.18 | $42,596 | $3,550 |
| 75th percentile | $58,810 | $28.27 | $49,434 | $4,119 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,320 | $35.25 | $60,411 | $5,034 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,300 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $42,596 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,220 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 Tampa, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Tampa, FL | $50,300 | $42,596 | $42,220 |
*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.
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Orlando, FL — $51,020
- Miami, FL — $51,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Tampa, FL?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $50,300 a year, or about $24.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,200 and $58,810.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $50,300 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $42,596 a year ($3,550 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,220 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #34 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 Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 48% 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 Tampa, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $74,980
- Electrician — $57,450
- Carpenter — $52,130
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $52,000
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $47,570
- Roofer — $47,170
- Construction Laborer — $43,750