SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Helena
Helena, MT · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Helena, MT is $62,570 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 Helena, MT is $62,570 per year, close to the national median of $59,850 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $47,520 at the tenth percentile to more than $80,280 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $59,590 to $65,350.
Employment stands at 220, or 4.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Bozeman leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $68,160. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 109th of 241 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,520 | −20.6% |
| 25th | $59,590 | −0.4% |
| Median (50th) | $62,570 | +4.5% |
| 75th | $65,350 | +9.2% |
| 90th | $80,280 | +34.1% |
| Mean | $63,460 | +6.0% |
Other metro areas in Montana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bozeman | $68,160 | 530 | |
| 2 | Missoula | $64,050 | 310 | |
| 3 | Great Falls | $62,090 | 170 | |
| 4 | Billings | $61,990 | 540 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Helena run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $62,570 goes as far as $66,142 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,570as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,142US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,570 a year, 4.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,520 to $80,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bozeman, at $68,160.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Helena, MT?
The median annual wage is $62,570, or $30.08 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 Helena, MT is 4.5% 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 Helena, MT earns more than $80,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,520 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 Bozeman, at $68,160 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 220 jobs in this occupation in Helena, MT. 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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