Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Western Washington nonmetropolitan area make a median of $71,790 a year, or about $34.51 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $72K actually covers in Western Washington nonmetropolitan area, month by month
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Western Washington nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $116K | +94% | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $98K | +63% | 12,290 |
| New Jersey | $90K | +50% | 5,980 |
| California | $87K | +46% | 36,020 |
| Washington | $82K | +37% | 10,290 |
| New York | $81K | +35% | 14,490 |
| Indiana | $80K | +33% | 11,520 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +32% | 8,590 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +32% | 2,860 |
| Alaska | $78K | +30% | 3,050 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +28% | 9,680 |
| Wisconsin | $75K | +26% | 8,140 |
| District of Columbia | $75K | +25% | 620 |
| Oregon | $73K | +23% | 5,630 |
| Nevada | $71K | +19% | 5,410 |
| Ohio | $65K | +9% | 16,920 |
| Rhode Island | $64K | +6% | 970 |
| Wyoming | $63K | +5% | 3,800 |
| Michigan | $63K | +5% | 9,500 |
| Colorado | $63K | +5% | 11,700 |
| New Hampshire | $62K | +4% | 1,330 |
| North Dakota | $62K | +4% | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $62K | +3% | 4,270 |
| Montana | $62K | +3% | 3,750 |
| Maryland | $61K | +3% | 6,610 |
| Utah | $61K | +1% | 7,880 |
| Arizona | $61K | +1% | 13,200 |
| Missouri | $61K | +1% | 10,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | +1% | 22,120 |
| Iowa | $60K | +1% | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $60K | -1% | 2,050 |
| Vermont | $59K | -2% | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $58K | -2% | 3,180 |
| Delaware | $58K | -3% | 1,230 |
| Kentucky | $58K | -3% | 7,050 |
| Virginia | $57K | -4% | 12,100 |
| Maine | $56K | -6% | 2,210 |
| Tennessee | $52K | -13% | 10,660 |
| New Mexico | $52K | -13% | 5,520 |
| Louisiana | $52K | -14% | 7,860 |
| Kansas | $52K | -14% | 7,070 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -14% | 7,830 |
| Texas | $50K | -16% | 55,540 |
| Florida | $49K | -17% | 27,510 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -18% | 16,580 |
| South Carolina | $49K | -18% | 8,160 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -20% | 7,050 |
| Georgia | $48K | -20% | 15,700 |
| Alabama | $48K | -21% | 9,640 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -21% | 4,170 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -26% | 5,800 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary changes
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Western Washington nonmetropolitan area?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 28.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,400/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 Western Washington nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new operating engineers and other construction equipment operators typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,742/month.
Is operating engineers and other construction equipment operator a high-paying job in Western Washington nonmetropolitan area?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $72K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Western Washington nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +20%.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Western Washington nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $71,790 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,350, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $115,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Western Washington nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,908/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,400/month, which eats 28.5% 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 Western Washington nonmetropolitan area?
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary is worth about $71,790 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.