Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in South Dakota make a median of $59,500 a year, or about $28.61 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $66,192 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 24.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in South Dakota?
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 24.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $61K | +2% | 630 |
| Rapid City | $61K | +2% | 410 |
Compare to other states
Track operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/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 South Dakota?
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 $2,836/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
South Dakota pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in South Dakota?
The median is $59,500 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,260, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $75,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,154/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 24.5% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $66,192 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.