SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · United States
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators across the United States is $59,850 per year, measured over 478,090 jobs. The highest state median is in Hawaii, at $115,860.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +3.6%
- Openings per year
- 41,900
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Pay for this occupation varies by 160.2% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Hawaii pays $115,860 and Arkansas pays $44,520.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $115,860 | 2,380 | |
| 2 | Illinois | $97,740 | 12,290 | |
| 3 | New Jersey | $89,660 | 5,980 | |
| 4 | California | $87,160 | 36,020 | |
| 5 | Washington | $81,700 | 10,290 | |
| 6 | New York | $80,980 | 14,490 | |
| 7 | Indiana | $79,580 | 11,520 | |
| 8 | Minnesota | $79,130 | 8,590 | |
| 9 | Connecticut | $78,750 | 2,860 | |
| 10 | Alaska | $77,810 | 3,050 |
States with the most Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 55,540 | $50,460 | |
| 2 | California | 36,020 | $87,160 | |
| 3 | Florida | 27,510 | $49,400 | |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 22,120 | $60,530 | |
| 5 | Ohio | 16,920 | $64,940 | |
| 6 | North Carolina | 16,580 | $49,310 | |
| 7 | Georgia | 15,700 | $47,880 | |
| 8 | New York | 14,490 | $80,980 | |
| 9 | Arizona | 13,200 | $60,620 | |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,290 | $97,740 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului | $124,990 | 400 |
| 2 | San Francisco | $124,750 | 4,080 |
| 3 | San Jose | $124,340 | 1,360 |
| 4 | Urban Honolulu | $117,630 | 1,430 |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $105,080 | 710 |
| 6 | Chicago | $103,100 | 7,930 |
| 7 | Olympia | $103,060 | 260 |
| 8 | Decatur | $100,520 | 100 |
| 9 | Michigan City | $98,120 | 170 |
| 10 | Waterloo | $97,770 | 420 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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