SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Huntsville
Huntsville, AL · 10 metro areas compared
In Huntsville, AL the median wage is $49,110.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Huntsville, AL the median wage is $49,110. That is 17.9% lower than the national median of $59,850. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,000 and $58,240. The lowest tenth earn under $39,780, while the highest tenth earn more than $64,840.
Employment stands at 1,100, or 4.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Birmingham leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $54,330. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 223rd of 389 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,780 | −33.5% |
| 25th | $46,000 | −23.1% |
| Median (50th) | $49,110 | −17.9% |
| 75th | $58,240 | −2.7% |
| 90th | $64,840 | +8.3% |
| Mean | $52,300 | −12.6% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | $54,330 | 2,070 | |
| 2 | Decatur | $49,470 | 290 | |
| 3 | Tuscaloosa | $47,710 | 650 | |
| 4 | Daphne | $47,450 | 350 | |
| 5 | Mobile | $47,400 | 990 | |
| 6 | Dothan | $47,120 | 200 | |
| 7 | Auburn | $47,000 | 360 | |
| 8 | Florence | $46,850 | 260 | |
| 9 | Montgomery | $44,860 | 580 | |
| 10 | Anniston | $42,020 | 240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Huntsville run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $49,110 goes as far as $55,304 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,110as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,304US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,110 a year, 17.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,780 to $64,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Birmingham, at $54,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Huntsville, AL?
The median annual wage is $49,110, or $23.61 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 Huntsville, AL is 17.9% 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 Huntsville, AL earns more than $64,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,780 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 Birmingham, at $54,330 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,100 jobs in this occupation in Huntsville, AL. 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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