SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Columbia
Columbia, MO · 7 metro areas compared
At $56,770, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Columbia, MO tracks the national median of $59,850 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $56,770, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Columbia, MO tracks the national median of $59,850 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,430 and $82,050. The lowest tenth earn under $41,790, while the highest tenth earn more than $90,730.
The area has 310 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.94 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. St. Louis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $82,270. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 158th of 336 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,790 | −30.2% |
| 25th | $47,430 | −20.8% |
| Median (50th) | $56,770 | −5.1% |
| 75th | $82,050 | +37.1% |
| 90th | $90,730 | +51.6% |
| Mean | $65,630 | +9.7% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $82,270 | 4,190 | |
| 2 | Jefferson City | $71,140 | 410 | |
| 3 | Kansas City | $64,060 | 4,110 | |
| 4 | St. Joseph | $62,820 | 390 | |
| 5 | Cape Girardeau | $61,480 | 130 | |
| 6 | Springfield | $53,340 | 530 | |
| 7 | Joplin | $53,210 | 330 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbia run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $56,770 goes as far as $62,522 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$56,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$62,522US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $56,770 a year, 5.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $41,790 to $90,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $82,270.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Columbia, MO?
The median annual wage is $56,770, or $27.29 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 Columbia, MO is 5.1% lower. 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 Columbia, MO earns more than $90,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $41,790 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 St. Louis, at $82,270 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 310 jobs in this occupation in Columbia, MO. 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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