Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S. is $59,850 ($28.78 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $59,850
- Mean annual wage
- $66,290
- Median hourly wage
- $28.78
- Employment
- 478,090
478,090 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,190 | $20.28 |
| 25th percentile | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Median (50th) | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| 75th percentile | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| 90th percentile | $101,090 | $48.60 |
Highest-paying states for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $97,740 | 12,290 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | 5,980 |
| California | $87,160 | 36,020 |
| Washington | $81,700 | 10,290 |
| New York | $80,980 | 14,490 |
| Indiana | $79,580 | 11,520 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 | 8,590 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | 2,860 |
| Alaska | $77,810 | 3,050 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $44,520 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $47,410 median annual wage
- Alabama: $47,520 median annual wage
- Georgia: $47,880 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $47,970 median annual wage
Related occupations
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.