Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO make a median of $64,650 a year, or about $31.08 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers.
So what does $65K get you in Fort Collins-Loveland?
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in metros near Fort Collins-Loveland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $64K | , |
| Greeley | $61K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $62K | , |
| Grand Junction | $58K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $27K 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 states
Track operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Fort Collins-Loveland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fort Collins-Loveland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 48.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Fort Collins-Loveland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operating engineers and other construction equipment operators typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,062/month.
Is operating engineers and other construction equipment operator a high-paying job in Fort Collins-Loveland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $65K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Fort Collins-Loveland compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
Fort Collins-Loveland pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +8%.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
The median is $64,650 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,030, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $78,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Fort Collins-Loveland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,252/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 48.1% 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 Fort Collins-Loveland?
Fort Collins-Loveland 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 $64,650 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.