SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Rhode Island is $63,610 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 Rhode Island is $63,610 per year, close to the national median of $59,850 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $52,460 at the tenth percentile to more than $98,870 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $61,660 to $83,820.
Employment stands at 970, or 1.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Rhode Island ranks 17th by median wage. Providence leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $69,900. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 278th of 545 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,460 | −12.3% |
| 25th | $61,660 | +3.0% |
| Median (50th) | $63,610 | +6.3% |
| 75th | $83,820 | +40.1% |
| 90th | $98,870 | +65.2% |
| Mean | $72,470 | +21.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Rhode Island
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | $69,900 | 1,570 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the national average, so the median of $63,610 buys what $62,180 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$63,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$62,180US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $63,610 a year, 6.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $52,460 to $98,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 970 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 17th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Providence, at $69,900.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Rhode Island?
The median annual wage is $63,610, or $30.58 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 Rhode Island is 6.3% 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 Rhode Island earns more than $98,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $52,460 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 Providence, at $69,900 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 970 jobs in this occupation in Rhode Island. 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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