Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Louisiana make a median of $51,700 a year, or about $24.86 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $59,235 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Louisiana?
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Louisiana runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by metro in Louisiana
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $58K | +13% | 1,150 |
| Baton Rouge | $58K | +13% | 2,260 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $51K | -1% | 750 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $51K | -2% | 250 |
| Hammond | $50K | -4% | 90 |
| Lafayette | $50K | -4% | 370 |
| Lake Charles | $49K | -5% | 410 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $49K | -5% | 710 |
| Monroe | $46K | -11% | 230 |
| Alexandria | $45K | -14% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 34.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/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 Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operating engineers and other construction equipment operators typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,246/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $52K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
Louisiana pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Louisiana?
The median is $51,700 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,440, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $75,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,497/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 34.1% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $59,235 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.