Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in the United States
What this work is
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
Where the money actually goes furthest
Hawaii pays the most both before and after cost of living — $115,860, worth $105,375 once local prices are counted.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $55.70/hr | $115,860 | $105,375 | $108,497 | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $46.99/hr | $97,740 | $97,779 | $93,039 | 12,290 |
| Indiana | $38.26/hr | $79,580 | $85,267 | $77,222 | 11,520 |
| New Jersey | $43.11/hr | $89,660 | $82,400 | $86,074 | 5,980 |
| Minnesota | $38.04/hr | $79,130 | $80,237 | $75,212 | 8,590 |
| Wisconsin | $36.19/hr | $75,280 | $80,000 | $72,387 | 8,140 |
| California | $41.90/hr | $87,160 | $78,721 | $83,026 | 36,020 |
| Washington | $39.28/hr | $81,700 | $76,348 | $81,700 | 10,290 |
| Alaska | $37.41/hr | $77,810 | $76,016 | $77,810 | 3,050 |
| Connecticut | $37.86/hr | $78,750 | $76,006 | $75,168 | 2,860 |
| New York | $38.94/hr | $80,980 | $75,037 | $77,131 | 14,490 |
| Massachusetts | $36.93/hr | $76,820 | $72,636 | $72,979 | 9,680 |
| Nevada | $34.33/hr | $71,410 | $71,424 | $71,410 | 5,410 |
| Oregon | $35.30/hr | $73,430 | $71,042 | $67,546 | 5,630 |
| Ohio | $31.22/hr | $64,940 | $70,001 | $63,870 | 16,920 |
| North Dakota | $29.88/hr | $62,150 | $69,862 | $62,150 | 4,890 |
| Iowa | $29.01/hr | $60,330 | $68,744 | $58,592 | 5,530 |
| Wyoming | $30.27/hr | $62,960 | $67,925 | $62,960 | 3,800 |
| District of Columbia | $35.87/hr | $74,610 | $67,888 | $71,109 | 620 |
| South Dakota | $28.61/hr | $59,500 | $67,163 | $59,500 | 2,050 |
| Missouri | $29.10/hr | $60,540 | $66,659 | $58,551 | 10,470 |
| Michigan | $30.14/hr | $62,690 | $65,152 | $60,263 | 9,500 |
| Montana | $29.61/hr | $61,580 | $65,060 | $59,061 | 3,750 |
| Nebraska | $28.06/hr | $58,360 | $64,772 | $56,234 | 3,180 |
| Idaho | $29.66/hr | $61,680 | $64,593 | $59,184 | 4,270 |
| Kentucky | $27.78/hr | $57,780 | $64,086 | $55,595 | 7,050 |
| Rhode Island | $30.58/hr | $63,610 | $62,192 | $61,620 | 970 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.10/hr | $60,530 | $62,037 | $58,671 | 22,120 |
| Utah | $29.20/hr | $60,740 | $61,440 | $57,976 | 7,880 |
| Colorado | $30.11/hr | $62,620 | $60,766 | $60,579 | 11,700 |
| Arizona | $29.14/hr | $60,620 | $60,210 | $59,469 | 13,200 |
| Vermont | $28.30/hr | $58,870 | $60,095 | $56,922 | 1,280 |
| New Hampshire | $29.91/hr | $62,200 | $59,710 | $62,200 | 1,330 |
| Louisiana | $24.86/hr | $51,700 | $58,610 | $50,524 | 7,860 |
| Maryland | $29.53/hr | $61,410 | $58,508 | $58,673 | 6,610 |
| Delaware | $27.89/hr | $58,020 | $58,130 | $55,366 | 1,230 |
| Maine | $26.99/hr | $56,140 | $57,846 | $53,590 | 2,210 |
| West Virginia | $24.66/hr | $51,300 | $57,318 | $49,632 | 7,830 |
| Kansas | $24.82/hr | $51,620 | $57,310 | $49,028 | 7,070 |
| Tennessee | $25.00/hr | $52,000 | $56,601 | $52,000 | 10,660 |
| Virginia | $27.48/hr | $57,160 | $56,538 | $54,619 | 12,100 |
| New Mexico | $25.00/hr | $52,000 | $56,393 | $50,564 | 5,520 |
| Oklahoma | $23.06/hr | $47,970 | $54,610 | $46,181 | 7,050 |
| Mississippi | $22.79/hr | $47,410 | $54,525 | $45,425 | 4,170 |
| Alabama | $22.84/hr | $47,520 | $53,501 | $45,334 | 9,640 |
| North Carolina | $23.71/hr | $49,310 | $52,273 | $47,756 | 16,580 |
| South Carolina | $23.53/hr | $48,940 | $52,202 | $47,488 | 8,160 |
| Texas | $24.26/hr | $50,460 | $51,988 | $50,460 | 55,540 |
| Arkansas | $21.41/hr | $44,520 | $51,207 | $42,960 | 5,800 |
| Georgia | $23.02/hr | $47,880 | $49,724 | $46,017 | 15,700 |
| Florida | $23.75/hr | $49,400 | $47,771 | $49,400 | 27,510 |
| Virgin Islands | $22.91/hr | $47,650 | Not published | Not published | 120 |
| Guam | $18.83/hr | $39,170 | Not published | Not published | 650 |
| Puerto Rico | $14.33/hr | $29,810 | Not published | Not published | 2,400 |
National median for comparison: $59,850. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$28.78/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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