SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Sioux City
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD · 7 metro areas compared
At $59,140, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Sioux City, IA tracks the national median of $59,850 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $59,140, median pay for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Sioux City, IA tracks the national median of $59,850 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $51,220 and $63,070. The lowest tenth earn under $46,940, while the highest tenth earn more than $73,030.
Employment stands at 200, or 2.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Waterloo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $97,770. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 118th of 288 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,940 | −21.6% |
| 25th | $51,220 | −14.4% |
| Median (50th) | $59,140 | −1.2% |
| 75th | $63,070 | +5.4% |
| 90th | $73,030 | +22.0% |
| Mean | $59,840 | −0.0% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo | $97,770 | 420 | |
| 2 | Davenport | $64,850 | 570 | |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $63,310 | 490 | |
| 4 | Des Moines | $62,610 | 1,260 | |
| 5 | Ames | $62,400 | 190 | |
| 6 | Dubuque | $62,250 | 160 | |
| 7 | Iowa City | $60,530 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Sioux City run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $59,140 goes as far as $67,358 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,358US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,140 a year, 1.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,940 to $73,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Waterloo, at $97,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Sioux City, IA?
The median annual wage is $59,140, or $28.43 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 Sioux City, IA is 1.2% 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 Sioux City, IA earns more than $73,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,940 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 Waterloo, at $97,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in Sioux City, IA. 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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