Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Athens-Clarke County, GA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Athens-Clarke County, GA make a median of $42,440 a year, or about $20.4 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.34), which stretches that salary to about $45,468 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,331/month — about 46% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Athens-Clarke County?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Athens-Clarke County’s Regional Price Parity (93.34). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Athens-Clarke County, GA
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $25K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $105K | +80% | 1,740 |
| Illinois | $97K | +65% | 11,690 |
| California | $89K | +52% | 36,040 |
| New Jersey | $84K | +43% | 6,450 |
| New York | $80K | +37% | 14,700 |
| Washington | $79K | +35% | 9,070 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +34% | 8,290 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +31% | 2,810 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | +30% | 850 |
| Alaska | $75K | +28% | 3,170 |
| Massachusetts | $73K | +24% | 10,360 |
| Nevada | $73K | +24% | 5,760 |
| Wisconsin | $73K | +24% | 8,320 |
| Indiana | $72K | +23% | 11,230 |
| District of Columbia | $69K | +18% | 560 |
| Oregon | $68K | +16% | 5,450 |
| Wyoming | $64K | +8% | 3,880 |
| New Hampshire | $63K | +7% | 1,530 |
| North Dakota | $63K | +7% | 4,690 |
| Michigan | $63K | +7% | 9,420 |
| Ohio | $62K | +6% | 16,510 |
| Iowa | $61K | +4% | 5,440 |
| Maryland | $61K | +3% | 6,470 |
| Montana | $60K | +2% | 3,610 |
| Missouri | $60K | +2% | 8,750 |
| Arizona | $60K | +2% | 13,520 |
| Utah | $60K | +2% | 6,320 |
| Idaho | $59K | +1% | 4,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | -0% | 20,680 |
| Nebraska | $57K | -3% | 3,180 |
| Kentucky | $57K | -3% | 7,020 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -3% | 2,080 |
| Delaware | $57K | -4% | 1,190 |
| Vermont | $56K | -4% | 1,160 |
| Maine | $55K | -6% | 1,980 |
| Virginia | $52K | -11% | 11,280 |
| Kansas | $51K | -14% | 6,850 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -15% | 7,940 |
| Louisiana | $50K | -15% | 7,230 |
| Texas | $50K | -15% | 55,290 |
| New Mexico | $49K | -16% | 5,000 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -16% | 10,190 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -17% | 15,890 |
| Florida | $49K | -17% | 29,420 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -19% | 8,430 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -20% | 6,690 |
| Alabama | $47K | -20% | 9,640 |
| Georgia | $46K | -21% | 15,720 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -22% | 4,150 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -23% | 5,550 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Athens-Clarke County numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
The median is $42,440 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $55,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Athens-Clarke County?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,855/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 46.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary go in Athens-Clarke County?
Athens-Clarke County has a Regional Price Parity of 93.34 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary is worth about $45,468 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.