Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in U.S.
SOC 47-2073 · National · 2024 BLS OEWS
The median salary for a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in U.S. is $58,710 per year as of 2024. That works out to roughly $28.23 per hour. 469,270 people work as Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in U.S.. Wages have grown 20% since 2019, when the median was $48,980.
Median Annual Salary
$58,710
Mean Annual
$65,180
Median Hourly
$28.23
Total Employed
469,270
Salary Distribution
$40k
10th
$48k
25th
$59k
Median
$76k
75th
$101k
90th
Salary by Industry
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Hydroelectric Power Generation | $119,160 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | $100,360 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $95,570 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $91,540 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $91,540 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $90,110 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $86,500 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | $81,850 |
| Utilities | $81,040 |
| Utilities | $81,040 |
| Real Estate | $79,910 |
| Pipeline Transportation | $79,800 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $78,680 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $76,180 |
| Roofing Contractors | $72,100 |
| Coal Mining | $71,890 |
| Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors | $71,520 |
| Rail Transportation | $70,640 |
| Rail Transportation | $70,640 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $70,140 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $70,140 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $68,710 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $68,240 |
| Engineering Services | $67,380 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $66,790 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $65,890 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $65,880 |
| Educational Services | $65,880 |
| Facilities Support Services | $65,810 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $65,610 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors | $64,220 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $64,210 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $64,210 |
| Construction of Buildings | $64,110 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $64,110 |
| Residential Building Construction | $63,840 |
| Hospitals | $63,010 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $63,010 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $62,370 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $62,040 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $62,040 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $61,710 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $61,710 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $61,550 |
| Utility System Construction | $61,110 |
| Construction | $60,950 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $60,110 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $60,110 |
| Masonry Contractors | $59,900 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $59,840 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $59,550 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $59,480 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $59,300 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $59,120 |
| Solar Electric Power Generation | $58,940 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $58,740 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $58,680 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $58,530 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $57,940 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $57,940 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $57,840 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $56,460 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors | $55,840 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $55,570 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $54,830 |
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers | $54,320 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $54,080 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $53,940 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $53,930 |
| Information | $53,550 |
| Telecommunications | $53,550 |
| Other Support Services | $53,230 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $53,000 |
| Casino Hotels | $52,950 |
| Landscaping Services | $52,650 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $52,650 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $52,640 |
| Food Manufacturing | $52,620 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $52,570 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $52,570 |
| Biomass Electric Power Generation | $52,070 |
| Forestry and Logging | $52,000 |
| Logging | $52,000 |
| Manufacturing | $51,950 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | $51,650 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $51,450 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $51,430 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $51,430 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $51,410 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $51,410 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $51,340 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $51,210 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $51,170 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $51,160 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $51,080 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $50,900 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $50,900 |
| Retail Trade | $50,730 |
| Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers | $50,720 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $50,630 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $50,630 |
| Truck Transportation | $50,530 |
| Waste Collection | $50,470 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $50,240 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $50,240 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $50,240 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $50,150 |
| Spectator Sports | $50,150 |
| Educational Services | $50,090 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $49,920 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | $49,880 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $49,800 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $49,800 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $49,690 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $49,510 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $49,510 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $49,500 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $49,500 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $49,500 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $49,300 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $49,300 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $49,300 |
| Death Care Services | $49,220 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $49,220 |
| Support Activities for Road Transportation | $49,200 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $49,100 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | $48,980 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $48,980 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $48,570 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $48,450 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $48,320 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $48,320 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $48,320 |
| Land Subdivision | $48,290 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $47,610 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $47,610 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $47,590 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $47,410 |
| Wholesale Trade | $47,260 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $47,240 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $47,190 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $47,070 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $47,050 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $46,780 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $46,300 |
| Accommodation | $46,300 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $46,110 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $45,530 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $45,510 |
| Employment Services | $45,170 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $45,150 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $45,150 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $45,080 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $44,970 |
| Temporary Help Services | $44,630 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $44,450 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $44,050 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $43,480 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $41,460 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | $39,880 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry | $39,880 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $38,090 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $35,050 |
Salary Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $58,710 |
| 2023 | $56,160 |
| 2022 | $51,430 |
| 2021 | $48,360 |
| 2020 | $49,770 |
| 2019 | $48,980 |
Related Construction and Extraction Occupations Jobs in U.S.
Other occupations in the same group, sorted by salary.
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $106,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,690 |
| Roof Bolters, Mining | $76,640 |
| Boilermakers | $73,340 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $72,120 |
| Pile Driver Operators | $70,510 |