SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Bay City
Bay City, MI · 10 metro areas compared
In Bay City, MI the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators reaches $75,310 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Bay City, MI the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators reaches $75,310 a year. That is 25.8% more than the national median of $59,850. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $62,400 and $96,930. The lowest tenth earn under $49,080, while the highest tenth earn more than $101,350.
The area has 140 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.39 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Battle Creek leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 43rd of 176 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,080 | −18.0% |
| 25th | $62,400 | +4.3% |
| Median (50th) | $75,310 | +25.8% |
| 75th | $96,930 | +62.0% |
| 90th | $101,350 | +69.3% |
| Mean | $76,500 | +27.8% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $78,020 | 150 | |
| 2 | Flint | $75,140 | 240 | |
| 3 | Detroit | $68,130 | 3,790 | |
| 4 | Midland | $65,710 | 120 | |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | $63,850 | 900 | |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | $62,490 | 170 | |
| 7 | Kalamazoo | $61,730 | 190 | |
| 8 | Lansing | $61,390 | 480 | |
| 9 | Traverse City | $61,200 | 280 | |
| 10 | Monroe | $60,910 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bay City run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $75,310 goes as far as $78,285 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 30.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$75,310as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$78,285US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $75,310 a year, 25.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,080 to $101,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Battle Creek, at $78,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Bay City, MI?
The median annual wage is $75,310, or $36.21 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $59,850, so pay in Bay City, MI is 25.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bay City, MI earns more than $101,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,080 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Battle Creek, at $78,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in Bay City, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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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