Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators · North Carolina

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in North Carolina

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $49,310 —17.6% below the national median of $59,850. That ranks NC #45 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$49,310
Median hourly
$23.71
Entry level (P10)
$39,050
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$64,450
90th percentile
Employment
16,580
3.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-17.6%
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
$39,050
$45,700
$49,310
$57,870
$39,050$49,310$64,450
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $49,310.

Employment concentration (1.09×) is close to the national average.

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

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Construction Laborers$44,720$47,120
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,270$79,920
Electricians$56,800$63,190
Carpenters$49,100$60,580
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$57,080$63,800
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$44,110$49,400

Frequently asked questions

How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in North Carolina is $49,310, or $23.71 per hour. That is 17.6% below the national median of $59,850.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $39,050 per year ($18.78/hour). The 25th percentile is $45,700.

How many people work as operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in North Carolina?

About 16,580 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 3.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?

North Carolina ranks #45 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.09x) is close to the national average.

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