Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in the United States

In the U.S., the median pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators is $28.78 an hour ($59,850 a year). About 478,090 people work in this job there.

$28.78Median hourly pay
$48,680–$77,170Middle half of workers, yearly
478,090People in this job in the U.S.

Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S.

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$20.28$42,190
25% of workers$23.40$48,680
Half of workers (median)$28.78$59,850
75% of workers$37.10$77,170
90% of workers$48.60$101,090

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

StateMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Hawaii$115,8602,380
Illinois$97,74012,290
New Jersey$89,6605,980
California$87,16036,020
Washington$81,70010,290
New York$80,98014,490
Indiana$79,58011,520
Minnesota$79,1308,590
Connecticut$78,7502,860
Alaska$77,8103,050

Pay by state

Education, experience and outlook for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

  • Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +4.6% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 39,200 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian yearly pay
Construction Laborers$47,120
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
Crane and Tower Operators$68,080
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$53,340
Millwrights$65,700
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$57,430
Continuous Mining Machine Operators$61,810

Other job titles for this job

Construction EngineerCable EngineerExcavatorMachine OperatorHeater Planer OperatorAngle Dozer OperatorBack Hoe OperatorBlade Grader OperatorBlade OperatorBulldozer EngineerBulldozer OperatorBush Hog Operator

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.