Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Ohio make a median of $64,940 a year, or about $31.22 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $71,011 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 27.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $65K get you in Ohio?
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
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What this looks like in Ohio
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $65K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $79K | +22% | 3,290 |
| Cleveland | $72K | +10% | 2,660 |
| Cincinnati | $67K | +3% | 3,120 |
| Mansfield | $66K | +2% | 190 |
| Toledo | $64K | -1% | 780 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $64K | -1% | 710 |
| Akron | $64K | -2% | 830 |
| Sandusky | $60K | -7% | 240 |
| Canton-Massillon | $60K | -8% | 530 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $59K | -9% | 420 |
| Lima | $59K | -9% | 130 |
| Springfield | $57K | -12% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 26.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operating engineers and other construction equipment operators typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,811/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $65K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
Ohio pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Ohio?
The median is $64,940 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,850, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $98,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,415/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 26.9% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $71,011 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.