Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Montana make a median of $61,580 a year, or about $29.61 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $63,485 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Montana?
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
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What this looks like in Montana
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by metro in Montana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $68K | +11% | 530 |
| Missoula | $64K | +4% | 310 |
| Helena | $63K | +2% | 220 |
| Great Falls | $62K | +1% | 170 |
| Billings | $62K | +1% | 540 |
Compare to other states
Track operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operating engineers and other construction equipment operators typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,888/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
Montana pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Montana?
The median is $61,580 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,130, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $79,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,083/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 27.7% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $63,485 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.