SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Niles
Niles, MI · 10 metro areas compared
At $59,670, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Niles, MI tracks the national median of $59,850 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $59,670, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Niles, MI tracks the national median of $59,850 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $54,500 and $81,160. The lowest tenth earn under $44,460, while the highest tenth earn more than $103,840.
Employment stands at 130, or 2.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Battle Creek leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 103rd of 239 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,460 | −25.7% |
| 25th | $54,500 | −8.9% |
| Median (50th) | $59,670 | −0.3% |
| 75th | $81,160 | +35.6% |
| 90th | $103,840 | +73.5% |
| Mean | $66,650 | +11.4% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $78,020 | 150 | |
| 2 | Bay City | $75,310 | 140 | |
| 3 | Flint | $75,140 | 240 | |
| 4 | Detroit | $68,130 | 3,790 | |
| 5 | Midland | $65,710 | 120 | |
| 6 | Grand Rapids | $63,850 | 900 | |
| 7 | Ann Arbor | $62,490 | 170 | |
| 8 | Kalamazoo | $61,730 | 190 | |
| 9 | Lansing | $61,390 | 480 | |
| 10 | Traverse City | $61,200 | 280 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Niles run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $59,670 goes as far as $62,027 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$62,027US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,670 a year, 0.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,460 to $103,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Battle Creek, at $78,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Niles, MI?
The median annual wage is $59,670, or $28.69 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 Niles, MI is 0.3% 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 Niles, MI earns more than $103,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,460 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 Battle Creek, at $78,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Niles, MI. 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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