SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Florida
Florida · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Florida is $49,400 per year, 17.5% below the national median of $59,850.
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 Florida is $49,400 per year, 17.5% below the national median of $59,850. Half of workers earn between $46,330 and $58,360. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,820 and the ninetieth at $64,020.
Employment stands at 27,510, or 2.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Florida ranks number 44th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Miami records the highest median at $51,800. Of the 777 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 455th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,820 | −35.1% |
| 25th | $46,330 | −22.6% |
| Median (50th) | $49,400 | −17.5% |
| 75th | $58,360 | −2.5% |
| 90th | $64,020 | +7.0% |
| Mean | $52,590 | −12.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami | $51,800 | 5,850 | |
| 2 | Naples | $51,040 | 680 | |
| 3 | Orlando | $51,020 | 4,330 | |
| 4 | Tampa | $50,300 | 3,980 | |
| 5 | Sebastian | $49,710 | 120 | |
| 6 | North Port | $49,460 | 1,090 | |
| 7 | Cape Coral | $49,330 | 1,160 | |
| 8 | Palm Bay | $49,140 | 620 | |
| 9 | Jacksonville | $48,920 | 1,990 | |
| 10 | Punta Gorda | $48,860 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $49,400 buys what $47,776 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,776US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,400 a year, 17.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,820 to $64,020 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 27,510 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 44th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Miami, at $51,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Florida?
The median annual wage is $49,400, or $23.75 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 Florida is 17.5% 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 Florida earns more than $64,020 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,820 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 Miami, at $51,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 27,510 jobs in this occupation in Florida. 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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