Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators · New Jersey

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in New Jersey

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in New Jersey earn a median annual wage of $89,660 —49.8% above the national median of $59,850. That ranks NJ #3 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$89,660
Median hourly
$43.11
Entry level (P10)
$50,760
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$133,330
90th percentile
Employment
5,980
1.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+49.8%
U.S. $59,850

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$50,760
$64,100
$89,660
$126,330
$50,760$89,660$133,330
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $89,660.

Employment is only 0.45× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in New Jersey.

Highest-paying states for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. New Jersey is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Hawaii$115,860$55.702,3801.23
2Illinois$97,740$46.9912,2900.66
3New Jersey$89,660$43.115,9800.45
4California$87,160$41.9036,0200.64
5Washington$81,700$39.2810,2900.94
6New York$80,980$38.9414,4900.49
7Indiana$79,580$38.2611,5201.17
8Minnesota$79,130$38.048,5900.95
9Connecticut$78,750$37.862,8600.55
10Alaska$77,810$37.413,0503.05

Related occupations in New Jersey

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New Jersey.

OccupationNew Jersey medianU.S. median
Construction Laborers$64,060$47,120
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$105,510$79,920
Electricians$77,250$63,190
Carpenters$64,010$60,580
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,240$63,800
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$59,250$49,400

Frequently asked questions

How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in New Jersey?

The median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in New Jersey is $89,660, or $43.11 per hour. That is 49.8% above the national median of $59,850.

What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in New Jersey?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $50,760 per year ($24.41/hour). The 25th percentile is $64,100.

How many people work as operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in New Jersey?

About 5,980 people work in this occupation in New Jersey, or 1.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New Jersey a good state for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?

New Jersey ranks #3 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.45x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in New Jersey.

Which state pays operating engineers and other construction equipment operators the most?

Hawaii has the highest median wage at $115,860 per year, followed by Illinois ($97,740) and New Jersey ($89,660).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes