Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Arecibo, PR make a median of $31,360 a year, or about $15.08 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100), that's roughly $31,360 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $510/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $31K get you in Arecibo?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Arecibo’s Regional Price Parity (100). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
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What this looks like in Arecibo
Pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Arecibo runs about 48% below the U.S. median of $60K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $510/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Arecibo can be a reasonable trade-off for operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in metros near Arecibo, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas | $30K | $30K |
| Ponce | $28K | $28K |
| Aguadilla | $28K | $28K |
| Mayaguez | $31K | $31K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arecibo, PR
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $116K | +94% | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $98K | +63% | 12,290 |
| New Jersey | $90K | +50% | 5,980 |
| California | $87K | +46% | 36,020 |
| Washington | $82K | +37% | 10,290 |
| New York | $81K | +35% | 14,490 |
| Indiana | $80K | +33% | 11,520 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +32% | 8,590 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +32% | 2,860 |
| Alaska | $78K | +30% | 3,050 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +28% | 9,680 |
| Wisconsin | $75K | +26% | 8,140 |
| District of Columbia | $75K | +25% | 620 |
| Oregon | $73K | +23% | 5,630 |
| Nevada | $71K | +19% | 5,410 |
| Ohio | $65K | +9% | 16,920 |
| Rhode Island | $64K | +6% | 970 |
| Wyoming | $63K | +5% | 3,800 |
| Michigan | $63K | +5% | 9,500 |
| Colorado | $63K | +5% | 11,700 |
| New Hampshire | $62K | +4% | 1,330 |
| North Dakota | $62K | +4% | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $62K | +3% | 4,270 |
| Montana | $62K | +3% | 3,750 |
| Maryland | $61K | +3% | 6,610 |
| Utah | $61K | +1% | 7,880 |
| Arizona | $61K | +1% | 13,200 |
| Missouri | $61K | +1% | 10,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | +1% | 22,120 |
| Iowa | $60K | +1% | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $60K | -1% | 2,050 |
| Vermont | $59K | -2% | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $58K | -2% | 3,180 |
| Delaware | $58K | -3% | 1,230 |
| Kentucky | $58K | -3% | 7,050 |
| Virginia | $57K | -4% | 12,100 |
| Maine | $56K | -6% | 2,210 |
| Tennessee | $52K | -13% | 10,660 |
| New Mexico | $52K | -13% | 5,520 |
| Louisiana | $52K | -14% | 7,860 |
| Kansas | $52K | -14% | 7,070 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -14% | 7,830 |
| Texas | $50K | -16% | 55,540 |
| Florida | $49K | -17% | 27,510 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -18% | 16,580 |
| South Carolina | $49K | -18% | 8,160 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -20% | 7,050 |
| Georgia | $48K | -20% | 15,700 |
| Alabama | $48K | -21% | 9,640 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -21% | 4,170 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -26% | 5,800 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arecibo?
Yes — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $510/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Arecibo?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operating engineers and other construction equipment operators typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,694/month. At HUD’s $510/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is operating engineers and other construction equipment operator a high-paying job in Arecibo?
Local pay runs 48% below the national median — $31K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Arecibo compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
Arecibo pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -48%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Arecibo, PR?
The median is $31,360 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,240, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $60,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Arecibo?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,270/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $510/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary go in Arecibo?
Arecibo has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary is worth about $31,360 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.