Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Wisconsin make a median of $75,280 a year, or about $36.19 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $79,805 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in Wisconsin?
About operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Wisconsin offers a genuinely strong financial position for operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau | $91K | +21% | 200 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $90K | +20% | 280 |
| Madison | $83K | +10% | 680 |
| Appleton | $83K | +10% | 480 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $79K | +6% | 2,070 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $77K | +2% | 150 |
| Green Bay | $76K | +1% | 420 |
| Eau Claire | $76K | +1% | 260 |
| Kenosha | $73K | -3% | 120 |
| Fond du Lac | $72K | -5% | 160 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $71K | -5% | 120 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $66K | -12% | 240 |
| Sheboygan | $64K | -15% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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Frequently asked questions
Can a operating engineers and other construction equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
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 $3,082/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $75K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
Wisconsin pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Wisconsin?
The median is $75,280 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,370, and experienced operating engineers and other construction equipment operators can clear $100,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,867/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $79,805 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.