Salaripedia
English

How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Columbia?

$48,410a year

Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators in the Columbia, SC metro area. That is $23.27 an hour or $4,034 a month.

Hourly
$23.27
Vs. national median
-19%
Rank among cities
317 of 392
Jobs in the area
1,120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,150Median: $48,410Highest 10%: $62,230
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$38,150$18.34
25th$43,310$20.82
Median$48,410$23.27
75th$56,270$27.05
90th$62,230$29.92

Other cities in South Carolina

Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators.

Charlotte, NC$50,870
Hilton Head Island, SC$50,740
Charleston, SC$50,640
Sumter, SC$50,340
Greenville, SC$48,980
Spartanburg, SC$48,940
Augusta, GA$48,190
Florence, SC$48,000
Myrtle Beach, SC$47,000
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salary in South Carolina Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salary in all states

Related jobs in Columbia

Same field, median yearly pay.

Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer$80,830
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker$72,800
Construction and Building Inspector$62,410
Electrician$60,390
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator$54,370
Plumber$52,070
Glazier$51,310
Insulation Worker$50,750
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$50,680
Structural Iron and Steel Worker$50,510
Salaries for every job in Columbia, SC

Frequently asked questions

How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make an hour in Columbia?

The median hourly pay in the Columbia, SC metro area is $23.27 ($48,410 a year).

Do operating engineer and other construction equipment operators make more in Columbia than the national average?

No: $48,410 against $59,850 nationally, 19% less.

How does Columbia compare with the rest of South Carolina?

The median in South Carolina is $48,940, so Columbia pays 1% less.

Where does Columbia rank for operating engineer and other construction equipment operator pay?

317 of 392 metro areas with data.

How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make starting out in Columbia?

The lowest-paid 10% make $38,150 or less a year; the top 10% make $62,230 or more.

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.