SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Nashville
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · 9 metro areas compared
At $56,030, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Nashville, TN tracks the national median of $59,850 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $56,030, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Nashville, TN tracks the national median of $59,850 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,470 and $60,560. The lowest tenth earn under $46,630, while the highest tenth earn more than $73,900.
The area has 3,820 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.13 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Kingsport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $55,960. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 328th of 609 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,630 | −22.1% |
| 25th | $49,470 | −17.3% |
| Median (50th) | $56,030 | −6.4% |
| 75th | $60,560 | +1.2% |
| 90th | $73,900 | +23.5% |
| Mean | $57,270 | −4.3% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingsport | $55,960 | 770 | |
| 2 | Memphis | $53,870 | 1,140 | |
| 3 | Clarksville | $50,910 | 420 | |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $50,320 | 750 | |
| 5 | Knoxville | $48,690 | 1,210 | |
| 6 | Cleveland | $48,210 | 160 | |
| 7 | Morristown | $48,170 | 220 | |
| 8 | Johnson City | $47,560 | 200 | |
| 9 | Jackson | $47,240 | 270 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Nashville run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $56,030 goes as far as $60,968 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$56,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,968US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $56,030 a year, 6.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,630 to $73,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,820 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kingsport, at $55,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Nashville, TN?
The median annual wage is $56,030, or $26.94 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 Nashville, TN is 6.4% 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 Nashville, TN earns more than $73,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,630 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 Kingsport, at $55,960 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,820 jobs in this occupation in Nashville, TN. 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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