Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators is $59,850, or $28.78 per hour. About 478,090 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $115,860 in Hawaii to $44,520 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $115,860 | $55.70 | 2,380 | 1.23 |
| 2 | Illinois | $97,740 | $46.99 | 12,290 | 0.66 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $89,660 | $43.11 | 5,980 | 0.45 |
| 4 | California | $87,160 | $41.90 | 36,020 | 0.64 |
| 5 | Washington | $81,700 | $39.28 | 10,290 | 0.94 |
| 6 | New York | $80,980 | $38.94 | 14,490 | 0.49 |
| 7 | Indiana | $79,580 | $38.26 | 11,520 | 1.17 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $79,130 | $38.04 | 8,590 | 0.95 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $78,750 | $37.86 | 2,860 | 0.55 |
| 10 | Alaska | $77,810 | $37.41 | 3,050 | 3.05 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $76,820 | $36.93 | 9,680 | 0.87 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $75,280 | $36.19 | 8,140 | 0.90 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $74,610 | $35.87 | 620 | 0.29 |
| 14 | Oregon | $73,430 | $35.30 | 5,630 | 0.93 |
| 15 | Nevada | $71,410 | $34.33 | 5,410 | 1.13 |
| 16 | Ohio | $64,940 | $31.22 | 16,920 | 0.99 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $63,610 | $30.58 | 970 | 0.63 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $62,960 | $30.27 | 3,800 | 4.40 |
| 19 | Michigan | $62,690 | $30.14 | 9,500 | 0.70 |
| 20 | Colorado | $62,620 | $30.11 | 11,700 | 1.32 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $62,200 | $29.91 | 1,330 | 0.63 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $62,150 | $29.88 | 4,890 | 3.70 |
| 23 | Idaho | $61,680 | $29.66 | 4,270 | 1.62 |
| 24 | Montana | $61,580 | $29.61 | 3,750 | 2.38 |
| 25 | Maryland | $61,410 | $29.53 | 6,610 | 0.78 |
| 26 | Utah | $60,740 | $29.20 | 7,880 | 1.48 |
| 27 | Arizona | $60,620 | $29.14 | 13,200 | 1.33 |
| 28 | Missouri | $60,540 | $29.10 | 10,470 | 1.16 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $60,530 | $29.10 | 22,120 | 1.19 |
| 30 | Iowa | $60,330 | $29.01 | 5,530 | 1.15 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $59,500 | $28.61 | 2,050 | 1.46 |
| 32 | Vermont | $58,870 | $28.30 | 1,280 | 1.37 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $58,360 | $28.06 | 3,180 | 1.01 |
| 34 | Delaware | $58,020 | $27.89 | 1,230 | 0.82 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $57,780 | $27.78 | 7,050 | 1.15 |
| 36 | Virginia | $57,160 | $27.48 | 12,100 | 0.96 |
| 37 | Maine | $56,140 | $26.99 | 2,210 | 1.12 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $52,000 | $25.00 | 10,660 | 1.06 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $52,000 | $25.00 | 5,520 | 2.06 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $51,700 | $24.86 | 7,860 | 1.32 |
| 41 | Kansas | $51,620 | $24.82 | 7,070 | 1.60 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $51,300 | $24.66 | 7,830 | 3.63 |
| 43 | Texas | $50,460 | $24.26 | 55,540 | 1.28 |
| 44 | Florida | $49,400 | $23.75 | 27,510 | 0.90 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $49,310 | $23.71 | 16,580 | 1.09 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $48,940 | $23.53 | 8,160 | 1.15 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $47,970 | $23.06 | 7,050 | 1.34 |
| 48 | Georgia | $47,880 | $23.02 | 15,700 | 1.04 |
| 49 | Alabama | $47,520 | $22.84 | 9,640 | 1.48 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $47,410 | $22.79 | 4,170 | 1.17 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $44,520 | $21.41 | 5,800 | 1.45 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make?
The median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the United States is $59,850, or $28.78 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $42,190, and the top 10% earn $101,090.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the U.S.?
About 478,090 people work as operating engineers and other construction equipment operators nationwide.
Which state pays operating engineers and other construction equipment operators the most?
Hawaii pays the most at a median of $115,860, followed by Illinois ($97,740) and New Jersey ($89,660).
Which state pays operating engineers and other construction equipment operators the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $44,520.
Where are operating engineers and other construction equipment operators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Wyoming at 4.40×.