SOC 472073

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties. Excludes "Extraction Workers" (47-5000) and "Crane and Tower Operators" (53-7021).

National Median

$58,710

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$58,710

Entry Level (10th pct)

$40,080

Experienced (90th pct)

$100,690

Total Employed

469,270

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$40,080 - $47,780
Mid Career2-8 years experience$47,780 - $75,750
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$75,750 - $100,690

Highest Paying Locations for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$117,3504,560
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$115,5001,350
Urban Honolulu, HI$109,740950
Hawaii$105,4401,740
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$101,2007,760
Springfield, IL$99,950230
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$98,830640
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$98,61011,790
Illinois$96,98011,690
Rockford, IL$96,740280
Decatur, IL$96,70080
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area$94,110480
Bloomington, IL$93,510200
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$93,2208,430
Champaign-Urbana, IL$92,410160
Vallejo, CA$91,590530
Kankakee, IL$90,59090
California$89,12036,040
Modesto, CA$87,030470
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$85,5204,470
New Jersey$84,1706,450
Peoria, IL$84,160350
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$84,130420
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA$83,780530
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$82,7402,810
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI$82,460300
Napa, CA$82,450210
Fresno, CA$82,0201,320
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$81,7704,060
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$81,3302,940
East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area$81,290400
St. Louis, MO-IL$81,2603,690
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$80,960800
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$80,550180
New York$80,26014,700
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$80,0503,480
Mankato, MN$79,920150
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN$79,780350
Michigan City-La Porte, IN$79,660220
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$79,590280
Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area$79,5001,450
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$79,410420
Bellingham, WA$79,190290
Washington$79,1909,070
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$79,1504,750
Salinas, CA$79,030290
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$78,920560
South Illinois nonmetropolitan area$78,770610
Stockton-Lodi, CA$78,670770
Minnesota$78,5808,290

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators?
The national median annual salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is $58,710, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operatorss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operatorss is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median salary of $117,350.
How much can an experienced Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators make?
Top-earning Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operatorss (90th percentile) make $100,690 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.