SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Georgia
Georgia · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Georgia is $47,880 per year, 20.0% 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 Georgia is $47,880 per year, 20.0% below the national median of $59,850. Pay ranges from under $37,810 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,840 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $41,670 to $56,940.
Employment stands at 15,700, or 3.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Georgia ranks 48th by median wage. Atlanta leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,430. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 469th of 744 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,810 | −36.8% |
| 25th | $41,670 | −30.4% |
| Median (50th) | $47,880 | −20.0% |
| 75th | $56,940 | −4.9% |
| 90th | $62,840 | +5.0% |
| Mean | $49,660 | −17.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Georgia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta | $49,430 | 8,360 | |
| 2 | Savannah | $48,810 | 720 | |
| 3 | Gainesville | $48,350 | 300 | |
| 4 | Augusta | $48,190 | 670 | |
| 5 | Warner Robins | $48,110 | 240 | |
| 6 | Hinesville | $47,510 | 60 | |
| 7 | Brunswick | $46,600 | 190 | |
| 8 | Columbus | $46,430 | 490 | |
| 9 | Macon | $46,300 | 310 | |
| 10 | Albany | $45,460 | 260 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Georgia run 3.7% below the national average, so the median of $47,880 goes as far as $49,720 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,880as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,720US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,880 a year, 20.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,810 to $62,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 15,700 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Atlanta, at $49,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Georgia?
The median annual wage is $47,880, or $23.02 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 Georgia is 20.0% 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 Georgia earns more than $62,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,810 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 Atlanta, at $49,430 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 15,700 jobs in this occupation in Georgia. 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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