SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Texas
Texas · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Texas is $50,460 per year, 15.7% below the national median of $59,850.
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 Texas is $50,460 per year, 15.7% below the national median of $59,850. Pay ranges from under $38,900 at the tenth percentile to more than $70,010 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,120 to $59,990.
Employment stands at 55,540, or 3.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Texas ranks 43rd by median wage. Midland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $57,900. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 443rd of 794 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,900 | −35.0% |
| 25th | $46,120 | −22.9% |
| Median (50th) | $50,460 | −15.7% |
| 75th | $59,990 | +0.2% |
| 90th | $70,010 | +17.0% |
| Mean | $53,740 | −10.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland | $57,900 | 1,150 | |
| 2 | Beaumont | $56,850 | 1,120 | |
| 3 | Odessa | $55,430 | 670 | |
| 4 | Sherman | $53,380 | 180 | |
| 5 | Dallas | $51,370 | 11,510 | |
| 6 | Houston | $51,040 | 14,000 | |
| 7 | Austin | $50,960 | 5,010 | |
| 8 | Abilene | $49,500 | 230 | |
| 9 | Amarillo | $48,850 | 490 | |
| 10 | San Antonio | $48,750 | 3,980 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $50,460 goes as far as $51,967 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,967US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,460 a year, 15.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,900 to $70,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 55,540 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Midland, at $57,900.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Texas?
The median annual wage is $50,460, or $24.26 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 Texas is 15.7% 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 Texas earns more than $70,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,900 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 Midland, at $57,900 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 55,540 jobs in this occupation in Texas. 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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