SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Fort Collins
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fort Collins, CO is $64,650 per year, 8.0% above 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 Fort Collins, CO is $64,650 per year, 8.0% above the national median of $59,850. Pay ranges from under $51,030 at the tenth percentile to more than $78,110 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $61,010 to $74,140.
The area has 600 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 3.5 of every thousand jobs. Boulder leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $71,060. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 195th of 423 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,030 | −14.7% |
| 25th | $61,010 | +1.9% |
| Median (50th) | $64,650 | +8.0% |
| 75th | $74,140 | +23.9% |
| 90th | $78,110 | +30.5% |
| Mean | $65,940 | +10.2% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $71,060 | 190 | |
| 2 | Denver | $64,080 | 5,150 | |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $61,660 | 1,030 | |
| 4 | Pueblo | $61,130 | 310 | |
| 5 | Greeley | $60,690 | 1,550 | |
| 6 | Grand Junction | $57,700 | 390 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fort Collins run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $64,650 buys what $62,706 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$64,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$62,706US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $64,650 a year, 8.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $51,030 to $78,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 600 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boulder, at $71,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fort Collins, CO?
The median annual wage is $64,650, or $31.08 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 Fort Collins, CO is 8.0% 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 Fort Collins, CO earns more than $78,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $51,030 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 Boulder, at $71,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 600 jobs in this occupation in Fort Collins, CO. 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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