Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in New Jersey make a median of $89,660 a year, or about $43.11 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $90,256 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $90K get you in New Jersey?
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 New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, local pay runs about 50% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 36.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by metro in New Jersey
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland | $77K | -14% | 180 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $76K | -15% | 320 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $70K | -22% | 270 |
Compare to other states
Track operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 36.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 New Jersey?
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 $3,046/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 50% above the national median — $90K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
New Jersey pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +50%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in New Jersey?
The median is $89,660 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,760, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $133,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,656/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 36.5% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $90,256 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.