How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Waterloo?
Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area. That is $47.00 an hour or $8,148 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.00
- Vs. national median
- +63%
- Rank among cities
- 10 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 420
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,130 | $26.50 | |
| 25th | $61,740 | $29.68 | |
| Median | $97,770 | $47.00 | |
| 75th | $97,770 | $47.00 | |
| 90th | $97,770 | $47.00 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators.
| Davenport, IA | $64,850 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $63,310 |
| Des Moines, IA | $62,610 |
| 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 Waterloo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker | $77,760 |
| Construction and Building Inspector | $71,330 |
| Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner | $63,610 |
| Electrician | $63,420 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $63,240 |
| Plumber | $62,200 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $59,380 |
| Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher | $58,860 |
| Carpenter | $55,840 |
| Painter | $55,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make an hour in Waterloo?
The median hourly pay in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $47.00 ($97,770 a year).
Do operating engineer and other construction equipment operators make more in Waterloo than the national average?
Yes: $97,770 against $59,850 nationally, 63% more.
How does Waterloo compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $60,330, so Waterloo pays 62% more.
Where does Waterloo rank for operating engineer and other construction equipment operator pay?
10 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make starting out in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $55,130 or less a year; the top 10% make $97,770 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.