How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $28.77 an hour or $4,988 a month.
- Hourly
- $28.77
- Average (mean)
- $66,290
- Jobs
- 478,090
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,190 | $20.28 | |
| 25th | $48,680 | $23.40 | |
| Median | $59,850 | $28.77 | |
| 75th | $77,170 | $37.10 | |
| 90th | $101,100 | $48.60 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Hawaii | $115,900 |
| Illinois | $97,740 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 |
| California | $87,160 |
| Washington | $81,700 |
| New York | $80,980 |
| Indiana | $79,580 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 |
| Alaska | $77,810 |
| Massachusetts | $76,820 |
| Wisconsin | $75,280 |
| District of Columbia | $74,610 |
| Oregon | $73,430 |
| Nevada | $71,410 |
| Ohio | $64,940 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 |
| Wyoming | $62,960 |
| Michigan | $62,690 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| New Hampshire | $62,200 |
| North Dakota | $62,150 |
| Idaho | $61,680 |
| Montana | $61,580 |
| Maryland | $61,410 |
| Utah | $60,740 |
| Arizona | $60,620 |
| Missouri | $60,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,530 |
| Iowa | $60,330 |
| South Dakota | $59,500 |
| Vermont | $58,870 |
| Nebraska | $58,360 |
| Delaware | $58,020 |
| Kentucky | $57,780 |
| Virginia | $57,160 |
| Maine | $56,140 |
| New Mexico | $52,000 |
| Tennessee | $52,000 |
| Louisiana | $51,700 |
| Kansas | $51,620 |
| West Virginia | $51,300 |
| Texas | $50,460 |
| Florida | $49,400 |
| North Carolina | $49,310 |
| South Carolina | $48,940 |
| Oklahoma | $47,970 |
| Georgia | $47,880 |
| Alabama | $47,520 |
| Mississippi | $47,410 |
| Arkansas | $44,520 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Kahului, HI | $125,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $124,800 |
| San Jose, CA | $124,300 |
| Honolulu, HI | $117,600 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $105,100 |
| Chicago, IL | $103,100 |
| Olympia, WA | $103,100 |
| Decatur, IL | $100,500 |
| Michigan City, IN | $98,120 |
| Waterloo, IA | $97,770 |
| Rockford, IL | $97,250 |
| Bloomington, IL | $96,250 |
| Seattle, WA | $95,750 |
| Springfield, IL | $95,310 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,100 |
In other countries
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator belongs to the international group "Earthmoving and related plant operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Boilermaker$76,410
- Brickmason and Blockmason$62,120
- Stonemason$57,390
- Carpenter$60,580
- Carpet Installer$50,340
- Floor Layer$56,460
- Floor Sander and Finisher$50,440
- Tile and Stone Setter$55,690
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$57,020
- Terrazzo Worker and Finisher$76,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $28.77 ($59,850 a year).
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make a month?
About $4,988 a month before tax, based on a median of $59,850 a year.
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $42,190 or less a year ($20.28 an hour); the top 10% make $101,100 or more.
Which state pays operating engineer and other construction equipment operators the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $115,900 a year, followed by Illinois ($97,740) and New Jersey ($89,660).
Which city pays operating engineer and other construction equipment operators the most?
Kahului-Wailuku, HI, with a median of $125,000 a year.
How many operating engineer and other construction equipment operators are there in the United States?
About 478,090 people work as operating engineer and other construction equipment operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.