SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Fargo
Fargo, ND-MN · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fargo, ND is $61,690 per year, close to the national median of $59,850 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fargo, ND is $61,690 per year, close to the national median of $59,850 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $48,350 at the tenth percentile to more than $81,570 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $54,830 to $72,420.
Employment stands at 960, or 6.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Minot leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,990. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 184th of 408 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,350 | −19.2% |
| 25th | $54,830 | −8.4% |
| Median (50th) | $61,690 | +3.1% |
| 75th | $72,420 | +21.0% |
| 90th | $81,570 | +36.3% |
| Mean | $64,150 | +7.2% |
Other metro areas in North Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minot | $62,990 | 290 | |
| 2 | Bismarck | $62,150 | 580 | |
| 3 | Grand Forks | $61,520 | 370 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fargo run 11.0% below the national average, so the median of $61,690 goes as far as $69,315 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,690as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$69,315US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,690 a year, 3.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,350 to $81,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 960 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Minot, at $62,990.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fargo, ND?
The median annual wage is $61,690, or $29.66 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 Fargo, ND is 3.1% 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 Fargo, ND earns more than $81,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,350 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 Minot, at $62,990 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 960 jobs in this occupation in Fargo, ND. 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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