Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators earn a median of $59,850 a year ($28.78/hr) in the U.S. – from $29,810 in Puerto Rico to $115,860 in Hawaii. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$28.78/hr · $59,850 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$42,190$20.28/hr
75% earn more$48,680$23.40/hr
half earn more, half less$59,850$28.78/hr
25% earn more$77,170$37.10/hr
top 10% earn more$101,090$48.60/hr
pulled up by top earners$66,290$31.87/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among operating engineers and other construction equipment operators. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
2,380 jobs · $55.70/hr$115,860
12,290 jobs · $46.99/hr$97,740
5,980 jobs · $43.11/hr$89,660
36,020 jobs · $41.90/hr$87,160
10,290 jobs · $39.28/hr$81,700
14,490 jobs · $38.94/hr$80,980
11,520 jobs · $38.26/hr$79,580
8,590 jobs · $38.04/hr$79,130
2,860 jobs · $37.86/hr$78,750
3,050 jobs · $37.41/hr$77,810
9,680 jobs · $36.93/hr$76,820
8,140 jobs · $36.19/hr$75,280
620 jobs · $35.87/hr$74,610
5,630 jobs · $35.30/hr$73,430
5,410 jobs · $34.33/hr$71,410
16,920 jobs · $31.22/hr$64,940
970 jobs · $30.58/hr$63,610
3,800 jobs · $30.27/hr$62,960
9,500 jobs · $30.14/hr$62,690
11,700 jobs · $30.11/hr$62,620
1,330 jobs · $29.91/hr$62,200
4,890 jobs · $29.88/hr$62,150
4,270 jobs · $29.66/hr$61,680
3,750 jobs · $29.61/hr$61,580
6,610 jobs · $29.53/hr$61,410
7,880 jobs · $29.20/hr$60,740
13,200 jobs · $29.14/hr$60,620
10,470 jobs · $29.10/hr$60,540
22,120 jobs · $29.10/hr$60,530
5,530 jobs · $29.01/hr$60,330
2,050 jobs · $28.61/hr$59,500
1,280 jobs · $28.30/hr$58,870
3,180 jobs · $28.06/hr$58,360
1,230 jobs · $27.89/hr$58,020
7,050 jobs · $27.78/hr$57,780
12,100 jobs · $27.48/hr$57,160
2,210 jobs · $26.99/hr$56,140
5,520 jobs · $25.00/hr$52,000
10,660 jobs · $25.00/hr$52,000
7,860 jobs · $24.86/hr$51,700
7,070 jobs · $24.82/hr$51,620
7,830 jobs · $24.66/hr$51,300
55,540 jobs · $24.26/hr$50,460
27,510 jobs · $23.75/hr$49,400
16,580 jobs · $23.71/hr$49,310
8,160 jobs · $23.53/hr$48,940
7,050 jobs · $23.06/hr$47,970
15,700 jobs · $23.02/hr$47,880
9,640 jobs · $22.84/hr$47,520
4,170 jobs · $22.79/hr$47,410
5,800 jobs · $21.41/hr$44,520
2,400 jobs · $14.33/hr$29,810
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 47-2073. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make?
The median wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S. was $28.78 an hour or $59,850 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $48,680 and $77,170 a year.
Which state pays operating engineers and other construction equipment operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators: $115,860 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $29,810. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are there?
BLS estimates 478,090 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.