Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,190 | $20.28 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Mean (average) | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| 90th percentile | $101,090 | $48.60 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,520 | $36,230 | $67,690 | 9,640 | 1.48 |
| Alaska | $77,810 | $62,390 | $103,900 | 3,050 | 3.05 |
| Arizona | $60,620 | $47,680 | $79,460 | 13,200 | 1.33 |
| Arkansas | $44,520 | $35,520 | $58,670 | 5,800 | 1.45 |
| California | $87,160 | $52,760 | $132,210 | 36,020 | 0.64 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | $49,480 | $78,870 | 11,700 | 1.32 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | $60,000 | $106,920 | 2,860 | 0.55 |
| Delaware | $58,020 | $39,090 | $97,520 | 1,230 | 0.82 |
| District of Columbia | $74,610 | $50,540 | $98,270 | 620 | 0.29 |
| Florida | $49,400 | $38,820 | $64,020 | 27,510 | 0.9 |
| Georgia | $47,880 | $37,810 | $62,840 | 15,700 | 1.04 |
| Guam | $39,170 | $37,440 | $52,940 | 650 | 3.16 |
| Hawaii | $115,860 | $62,390 | $129,590 | 2,380 | 1.23 |
| Idaho | $61,680 | $47,230 | $79,650 | 4,270 | 1.62 |
| Illinois | $97,740 | $49,770 | $123,330 | 12,290 | 0.66 |
| Indiana | $79,580 | $47,630 | $98,850 | 11,520 | 1.17 |
| Iowa | $60,330 | $46,690 | $87,460 | 5,530 | 1.15 |
| Kansas | $51,620 | $39,520 | $85,420 | 7,070 | 1.6 |
| Kentucky | $57,780 | $44,620 | $80,890 | 7,050 | 1.15 |
| Louisiana | $51,700 | $37,440 | $75,180 | 7,860 | 1.32 |
| Maine | $56,140 | $46,200 | $75,390 | 2,210 | 1.12 |
| Maryland | $61,410 | $46,760 | $78,870 | 6,610 | 0.78 |
| Massachusetts | $76,820 | $52,630 | $125,400 | 9,680 | 0.87 |
| Michigan | $62,690 | $46,370 | $90,580 | 9,500 | 0.7 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 | $55,960 | $101,930 | 8,590 | 0.95 |
| Mississippi | $47,410 | $36,180 | $67,030 | 4,170 | 1.17 |
| Missouri | $60,540 | $43,290 | $94,130 | 10,470 | 1.16 |
| Montana | $61,580 | $48,130 | $79,880 | 3,750 | 2.38 |
| Nebraska | $58,360 | $44,620 | $75,700 | 3,180 | 1.01 |
| Nevada | $71,410 | $51,050 | $111,210 | 5,410 | 1.13 |
| New Hampshire | $62,200 | $49,770 | $87,730 | 1,330 | 0.63 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | $50,760 | $133,330 | 5,980 | 0.45 |
| New Mexico | $52,000 | $44,800 | $69,690 | 5,520 | 2.06 |
| New York | $80,980 | $50,190 | $144,920 | 14,490 | 0.49 |
| North Carolina | $49,310 | $39,050 | $64,450 | 16,580 | 1.09 |
| North Dakota | $62,150 | $49,840 | $100,570 | 4,890 | 3.7 |
| Ohio | $64,940 | $46,850 | $98,100 | 16,920 | 0.99 |
| Oklahoma | $47,970 | $37,440 | $64,380 | 7,050 | 1.34 |
| Oregon | $73,430 | $53,410 | $117,310 | 5,630 | 0.93 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,530 | $46,780 | $94,930 | 22,120 | 1.19 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,810 | $22,420 | $42,970 | 2,400 | 0.83 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | $52,460 | $98,870 | 970 | 0.63 |
| South Carolina | $48,940 | $38,720 | $64,330 | 8,160 | 1.15 |
| South Dakota | $59,500 | $47,260 | $75,880 | 2,050 | 1.46 |
| Tennessee | $52,000 | $41,600 | $75,430 | 10,660 | 1.06 |
| Texas | $50,460 | $38,900 | $70,010 | 55,540 | 1.28 |
| Utah | $60,740 | $47,420 | $75,880 | 7,880 | 1.48 |
| Vermont | $58,870 | $50,270 | $73,860 | 1,280 | 1.37 |
| Virgin Islands | $47,650 | $32,000 | $85,140 | 120 | 1.24 |
| Virginia | $57,160 | $40,870 | $78,250 | 12,100 | 0.96 |
| Washington | $81,700 | $57,200 | $125,490 | 10,290 | 0.94 |
| West Virginia | $51,300 | $36,500 | $76,970 | 7,830 | 3.63 |
| Wisconsin | $75,280 | $51,370 | $100,140 | 8,140 | 0.9 |
| Wyoming | $62,960 | $48,370 | $85,630 | 3,800 | 4.4 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 39,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation CIP 49.0202
- Mobil Crane Operator/Operation CIP 49.0206
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Learn and follow safety regulations.
- Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
- Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
- Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Maintenance record software
- Work record software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Time Management, Coordination.
Common job titles: Back Hoe Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator (EO), Forklift Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO), Hot Mix Asphalt Operator, Machine Operator, Motor Grader Operator, Operating Engineer, Track Hoe Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make?
The national median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators was $59,850 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $42,190 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $101,090. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is operating engineers and other construction equipment operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators to change +4.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 39,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay operating engineers and other construction equipment operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($115,860), Illinois ($97,740), New Jersey ($89,660). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.