Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in North Carolina make a median of $49,310 a year, or about $23.71 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $53,216 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 37.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina
Pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in North Carolina runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 39.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $52K | +5% | 200 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $51K | +4% | 3,080 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $51K | +3% | 4,440 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $51K | +3% | 480 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $50K | +2% | 90 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $49K | +0% | 1,080 |
| Rocky Mount | $49K | -1% | 170 |
| Fayetteville | $48K | -2% | 440 |
| Asheville | $48K | -3% | 510 |
| Greenville | $48K | -3% | 210 |
| Wilmington | $48K | -3% | 790 |
| Winston-Salem | $48K | -3% | 770 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $47K | -4% | 370 |
| Goldsboro | $47K | -4% | 220 |
| Jacksonville | $47K | -5% | 180 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 39.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operating engineers and other construction equipment operators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,343/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $49K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
North Carolina pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in North Carolina?
The median is $49,310 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,050, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $64,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,287/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 39.1% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $53,216 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.