SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN · 10 metro areas compared
At $77,450 a year, the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fort Wayne, IN sits 29.4% above the national figure of $59,850.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $77,450 a year, the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fort Wayne, IN sits 29.4% above the national figure of $59,850. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $57,800 and $92,670. The lowest tenth earn under $46,500, while the highest tenth earn more than $95,730.
The area has 650 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. Within the state, Michigan City records the highest median at $98,120. Of the 442 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 85th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,500 | −22.3% |
| 25th | $57,800 | −3.4% |
| Median (50th) | $77,450 | +29.4% |
| 75th | $92,670 | +54.8% |
| 90th | $95,730 | +59.9% |
| Mean | $73,600 | +23.0% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan City | $98,120 | 170 | |
| 2 | Evansville | $84,500 | 510 | |
| 3 | Lafayette | $83,460 | 340 | |
| 4 | Kokomo | $82,270 | 100 | |
| 5 | Indianapolis | $82,190 | 3,700 | |
| 6 | South Bend | $80,460 | 360 | |
| 7 | Columbus | $64,970 | 110 | |
| 8 | Bloomington | $62,120 | 230 | |
| 9 | Elkhart | $61,710 | 290 | |
| 10 | Terre Haute | $61,630 | 230 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fort Wayne run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $77,450 goes as far as $83,012 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 38.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$77,450as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$83,012US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $77,450 a year, 29.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,500 to $95,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 650 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Michigan City, at $98,120.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median annual wage is $77,450, or $37.24 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 Wayne, IN is 29.4% 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 Wayne, IN earns more than $95,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,500 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 Michigan City, at $98,120 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 650 jobs in this occupation in Fort Wayne, IN. 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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