Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An operating engineer and other construction equipment operator earns a median of $59,850 a year ($28.78 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $66,290. About 478,090 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $59,850
- Gross pay
- $2,301.92
- Federal income tax
- −$192.38
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$142.72
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$33.38
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,933.44
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $59,850
- Federal
- $5,002
- FICA
- $4,579
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $50,269
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 | $102,020 | 2,380 |
| Illinois | $97,740 | $90,500 | 12,290 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 | $93,270 | 5,980 |
| California | $87,160 | $94,000 | 36,020 |
| Washington | $81,700 | $88,290 | 10,290 |
| New York | $80,980 | $90,690 | 14,490 |
| Indiana | $79,580 | $75,300 | 11,520 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 | $79,070 | 8,590 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | $83,380 | 2,860 |
| Alaska | $77,810 | $82,680 | 3,050 |
| Massachusetts | $76,820 | $84,730 | 9,680 |
| Wisconsin | $75,280 | $77,770 | 8,140 |
| District of Columbia | $74,610 | $76,470 | 620 |
| Oregon | $73,430 | $79,270 | 5,630 |
| Nevada | $71,410 | $76,050 | 5,410 |
| Ohio | $64,940 | $71,830 | 16,920 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | $72,470 | 970 |
| Wyoming | $62,960 | $67,010 | 3,800 |
| Michigan | $62,690 | $66,920 | 9,500 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | $64,550 | 11,700 |
| New Hampshire | $62,200 | $67,270 | 1,330 |
| North Dakota | $62,150 | $68,640 | 4,890 |
| Idaho | $61,680 | $63,920 | 4,270 |
| Montana | $61,580 | $63,350 | 3,750 |
| Maryland | $61,410 | $61,650 | 6,610 |
| Utah | $60,740 | $60,840 | 7,880 |
| Arizona | $60,620 | $61,520 | 13,200 |
| Missouri | $60,540 | $67,960 | 10,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,530 | $65,920 | 22,120 |
| Iowa | $60,330 | $63,770 | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $59,500 | $59,330 | 2,050 |
| Vermont | $58,870 | $60,310 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $58,360 | $58,240 | 3,180 |
| Delaware | $58,020 | $60,690 | 1,230 |
| Kentucky | $57,780 | $59,320 | 7,050 |
| Virginia | $57,160 | $58,400 | 12,100 |
| Maine | $56,140 | $58,230 | 2,210 |
| New Mexico | $52,000 | $54,810 | 5,520 |
| Tennessee | $52,000 | $55,050 | 10,660 |
| Louisiana | $51,700 | $55,380 | 7,860 |
| Kansas | $51,620 | $57,540 | 7,070 |
| West Virginia | $51,300 | $54,480 | 7,830 |
| Texas | $50,460 | $53,740 | 55,540 |
| Florida | $49,400 | $52,590 | 27,510 |
| North Carolina | $49,310 | $52,310 | 16,580 |
| South Carolina | $48,940 | $51,640 | 8,160 |
| Oklahoma | $47,970 | $50,110 | 7,050 |
| Georgia | $47,880 | $49,660 | 15,700 |
| Alabama | $47,520 | $50,680 | 9,640 |
| Mississippi | $47,410 | $50,010 | 4,170 |
| Arkansas | $44,520 | $45,890 | 5,800 |
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BLS occupation: Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 47-2073). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $28.78; the average is $31.87.
Which state pays operating engineers and other construction equipment operators the most?
Hawaii ($115,860 median), followed by Illinois and New Jersey.
What is the salary range for an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
The bottom 10% earn under $42,190 and the top 10% earn over $101,090 a year.
How much is $59,850 after taxes?
About $50,269 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $47,861 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.