SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Paducah
Paducah, KY-IL · 5 metro areas compared
At $59,000, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Paducah, KY tracks the national median of $59,850 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $59,000, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Paducah, KY tracks the national median of $59,850 closely. Pay ranges from under $47,610 at the tenth percentile to more than $83,810 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,880 to $64,670.
The area has 460 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.98 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Louisville/Jefferson County records the highest median at $61,890. Of the 207 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 91st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,610 | −20.5% |
| 25th | $49,880 | −16.7% |
| Median (50th) | $59,000 | −1.4% |
| 75th | $64,670 | +8.1% |
| 90th | $83,810 | +40.0% |
| Mean | $60,380 | +0.9% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $61,890 | 1,920 | |
| 2 | Bowling Green | $60,180 | 300 | |
| 3 | Lexington | $58,560 | 760 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $50,960 | 110 | |
| 5 | Owensboro | $49,550 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Paducah run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $59,000 goes as far as $65,410 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,410US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,000 a year, 1.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,610 to $83,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 460 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $61,890.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Paducah, KY?
The median annual wage is $59,000, or $28.36 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 Paducah, KY is 1.4% 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 Paducah, KY earns more than $83,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,610 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, at $61,890 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 460 jobs in this occupation in Paducah, KY. 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.
Explore related data