Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Georgia make a median of $47,880 a year, or about $23.02 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $52,106 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 43.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Georgia?
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Georgia runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 44.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by metro in Georgia
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $49K | +3% | 8,360 |
| Savannah | $49K | +2% | 720 |
| Gainesville | $48K | +1% | 300 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $48K | +1% | 670 |
| Warner Robins | $48K | +0% | 240 |
| Hinesville | $48K | -1% | 60 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $47K | -3% | 190 |
| Columbus | $46K | -3% | 490 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $46K | -3% | 310 |
| Albany | $45K | -5% | 260 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $44K | -7% | 230 |
| Valdosta | $42K | -13% | 190 |
| Dalton | $41K | -15% | 200 |
| Rome | $36K | -24% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 44.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operating engineers and other construction equipment operators typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,269/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is operating engineers and other construction equipment operator a high-paying job in Georgia?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $48K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
Georgia pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Georgia?
The median is $47,880 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,810, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $62,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,194/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 44.9% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $52,106 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.