Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Construction and Extraction Occupations · 478K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$59,850
Median hourly
$29
Average annual
$66,290
Typical range
$42,190–$101,090
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is $59,850 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $29 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties..
Most earn between $42,190 and $101,090 a year. There are roughly 478K people employed as operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators.
- Hourly
- $28.77
- Daily
- $230
- Weekly
- $1,151
- Bi-weekly
- $2,302
- Monthly
- $4,988
- Annual
- $59,850
$59,850 a year is around the 50th percentile for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operatorss. The median is $59,850.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Hawaii$115,860
- 2Illinois$97,740
- 3New Jersey$89,660
- 4California$87,160
- 5Washington$81,700
- 6New York$80,980
- 7Indiana$79,580
- 8Minnesota$79,130
- 9Connecticut$78,750
- 10Alaska$77,810
- 11Massachusetts$76,820
- 12Wisconsin$75,280
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Kahului-Wailuku, HI$124,990
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$124,750
- 3San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$124,340
- 4Urban Honolulu, HI$117,630
- 5Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$105,080
- 6Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$103,100
- 7Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$103,060
- 8Decatur, IL$100,520
- 9Michigan City-La Porte, IN$98,120
- 10Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$97,770
- 11Rockford, IL$97,250
- 12Bloomington, IL$96,250
Related job titles
Employers advertise Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators roles under these titles.
- Angle Dozer Operator
- Back Hoe Operator
- Backhoe Operator
- Blade Grader Operator
- Blade Operator
- Bulldozer Engineer
- Bulldozer Operator
- Bush Hog Operator
- Cable Engineer
- Car Runner
- Catshovel Driver
- Clamshell Engineer
- Construction Backhoe Operator
- Construction Bulldozer Operator
- Construction Engineer
- Construction Shovel Operator
Related occupations
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$57,430
- Hoist and Winch Operators$56,450
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators$61,810
- Crane and Tower Operators$68,080
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$53,340
- Pile Driver Operators$73,300
What a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators does
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- 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.
- Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
- Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.
- Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain.
- Operate tractors or bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, or building roadways or parking lots.
- Connect hydraulic hoses, belts, mechanical linkages, or power takeoff shafts to tractors.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is $59,850 ($29 per hour). Pay ranges from about $42,190 at the 10th percentile to $101,090 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $66,290, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operatorss the most?
- Hawaii has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $115,860.
- Is Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 478K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators do?
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.; 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..