Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators · Washington

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Washington

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Washington earn a median annual wage of $81,700 —36.5% above the national median of $59,850. That ranks WA #5 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$81,700
Median hourly
$39.28
Entry level (P10)
$57,200
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$125,490
90th percentile
Employment
10,290
2.9 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+36.5%
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
$57,200
$64,390
$81,700
$114,640
$57,200$81,700$125,490
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $81,700.

Employment concentration (0.94×) 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. Washington 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 Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

OccupationWashington medianU.S. median
Construction Laborers$57,720$47,120
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$109,570$79,920
Electricians$95,220$63,190
Carpenters$74,190$60,580
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$81,030$63,800
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$59,650$49,400

Frequently asked questions

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

The median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Washington is $81,700, or $39.28 per hour. That is 36.5% above the national median of $59,850.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $57,200 per year ($27.50/hour). The 25th percentile is $64,390.

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

About 10,290 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 2.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

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

Washington ranks #5 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.94x) 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