Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators · Pennsylvania

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Pennsylvania

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of $60,530 —1.1% above the national median of $59,850. That ranks PA #29 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$60,530
Median hourly
$29.10
Entry level (P10)
$46,780
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$94,930
90th percentile
Employment
22,120
3.6 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+1.1%
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
$46,780
$50,790
$60,530
$77,780
$46,780$60,530$94,930
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $60,530.

Employment is 1.19× as concentrated as the national average, making Pennsylvania a strong market for this occupation.

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

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Pennsylvania.

OccupationPennsylvania medianU.S. median
Construction Laborers$49,400$47,120
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$81,540$79,920
Electricians$67,600$63,190
Carpenters$59,370$60,580
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$68,080$63,800
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$52,120$49,400

Frequently asked questions

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

The median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Pennsylvania is $60,530, or $29.10 per hour. That is 1.1% above the national median of $59,850.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $46,780 per year ($22.49/hour). The 25th percentile is $50,790.

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

About 22,120 people work in this occupation in Pennsylvania, or 3.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

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

Pennsylvania ranks #29 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.19x as concentrated as the national average, making Pennsylvania a strong market for this occupation.

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