How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Des Moines?
Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $30.10 an hour or $5,218 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.10
- Vs. national median
- +5%
- Rank among cities
- 136 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 1,260
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,710 | $22.46 | |
| 25th | $58,290 | $28.02 | |
| Median | $62,610 | $30.10 | |
| 75th | $78,250 | $37.62 | |
| 90th | $82,970 | $39.89 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators.
| Waterloo, IA | $97,770 |
| Davenport, IA | $64,850 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $63,310 |
| Ames, IA | $62,400 |
| Dubuque, IA | $62,250 |
| Iowa City, IA | $60,530 |
| Omaha, NE | $60,020 |
| Sioux City, IA | $59,140 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker | $82,090 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $80,080 |
| Brickmason and Blockmason | $75,810 |
| Plumber | $75,040 |
| Construction and Building Inspector | $73,910 |
| Insulation Worker | $70,410 |
| Taper | $67,050 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $66,000 |
| Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner | $63,750 |
| Floor Layer | $63,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $30.10 ($62,610 a year).
Do operating engineer and other construction equipment operators make more in Des Moines than the national average?
Yes: $62,610 against $59,850 nationally, 5% more.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $60,330, so Des Moines pays 4% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for operating engineer and other construction equipment operator pay?
136 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $46,710 or less a year; the top 10% make $82,970 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.