Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (SOC 47-2073) employed 478,090 people in May 2025. The median pay is $59,850 a year ($28.78 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,190 and the highest-paid 10% more than $101,090. BLS projects its employment to change by +4.6% between 2025 and 2035 (about 39,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Hawaii ($115,860), Illinois ($97,740), New Jersey ($89,660). Most jobs: Texas (55,540), California (36,020), Florida (27,510).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,190 | $20.28 |
| 25th percentile | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Median | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Mean | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| 75th percentile | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $101,090 | $48.60 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 489,500 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 511,800 |
| Change in jobs | 22,300 |
| Percent change | +4.6% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 39,200 |
| Self-employed share | 2.3% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 9,640 | 1.48 | $47,520 | $36,230 | $67,690 | -21% | 27% |
| Alaska | 3,050 | 3.05 | $77,810 | $62,390 | $103,900 | +30% | 22% |
| Arizona | 13,200 | 1.33 | $60,620 | $47,680 | $79,460 | +1% | 33% |
| Arkansas | 5,800 | 1.45 | $44,520 | $35,520 | $58,670 | -26% | 26% |
| California | 36,020 | 0.64 | $87,160 | $52,760 | $132,210 | +46% | 29% |
| Colorado | 11,700 | 1.32 | $62,620 | $49,480 | $78,870 | +5% | 35% |
| Connecticut | 2,860 | 0.55 | $78,750 | $60,000 | $106,920 | +32% | 24% |
| Delaware | 1,230 | 0.82 | $58,020 | $39,090 | $97,520 | -3% | 32% |
| District of Columbia | 620 | 0.29 | $74,610 | $50,540 | $98,270 | +25% | 31% |
| Florida | 27,510 | 0.90 | $49,400 | $38,820 | $64,020 | -17% | 44% |
| Georgia | 15,700 | 1.04 | $47,880 | $37,810 | $62,840 | -20% | 38% |
| Hawaii | 2,380 | 1.23 | $115,860 | $62,390 | $129,590 | +94% | 20% |
| Idaho | 4,270 | 1.62 | $61,680 | $47,230 | $79,650 | +3% | 27% |
| Illinois | 12,290 | 0.66 | $97,740 | $49,770 | $123,330 | +63% | 16% |
| Indiana | 11,520 | 1.17 | $79,580 | $47,630 | $98,850 | +33% | 17% |
| Iowa | 5,530 | 1.15 | $60,330 | $46,690 | $87,460 | +1% | 20% |
| Kansas | 7,070 | 1.60 | $51,620 | $39,520 | $85,420 | -14% | 25% |
| Kentucky | 7,050 | 1.15 | $57,780 | $44,620 | $80,890 | -3% | 21% |
| Louisiana | 7,860 | 1.32 | $51,700 | $37,440 | $75,180 | -14% | 25% |
| Maine | 2,210 | 1.12 | $56,140 | $46,200 | $75,390 | -6% | 26% |
| Maryland | 6,610 | 0.78 | $61,410 | $46,760 | $78,870 | +3% | 34% |
| Massachusetts | 9,680 | 0.87 | $76,820 | $52,630 | $125,400 | +28% | 29% |
| Michigan | 9,500 | 0.70 | $62,690 | $46,370 | $90,580 | +5% | 22% |
| Minnesota | 8,590 | 0.95 | $79,130 | $55,960 | $101,930 | +32% | 20% |
| Mississippi | 4,170 | 1.17 | $47,410 | $36,180 | $67,030 | -21% | 25% |
| Missouri | 10,470 | 1.16 | $60,540 | $43,290 | $94,130 | +1% | 21% |
| Montana | 3,750 | 2.38 | $61,580 | $48,130 | $79,880 | +3% | 23% |
| Nebraska | 3,180 | 1.01 | $58,360 | $44,620 | $75,700 | -2% | 23% |
| Nevada | 5,410 | 1.13 | $71,410 | $51,050 | $111,210 | +19% | 29% |
| New Hampshire | 1,330 | 0.63 | $62,200 | $49,770 | $87,730 | +4% | 30% |
| New Jersey | 5,980 | 0.45 | $89,660 | $50,760 | $133,330 | +50% | 24% |
| New Mexico | 5,520 | 2.06 | $52,000 | $44,800 | $69,690 | -13% | 26% |
| New York | 14,490 | 0.49 | $80,980 | $50,190 | $144,920 | +35% | 24% |
| North Carolina | 16,580 | 1.09 | $49,310 | $39,050 | $64,450 | -18% | 33% |
| North Dakota | 4,890 | 3.70 | $62,150 | $49,840 | $100,570 | +4% | 19% |
| Ohio | 16,920 | 0.99 | $64,940 | $46,850 | $98,100 | +9% | 20% |
| Oklahoma | 7,050 | 1.34 | $47,970 | $37,440 | $64,380 | -20% | 26% |
| Oregon | 5,630 | 0.93 | $73,430 | $53,410 | $117,310 | +23% | 26% |
| Pennsylvania | 22,120 | 1.19 | $60,530 | $46,780 | $94,930 | +1% | 25% |
| Rhode Island | 970 | 0.63 | $63,610 | $52,460 | $98,870 | +6% | 27% |
| South Carolina | 8,160 | 1.15 | $48,940 | $38,720 | $64,330 | -18% | 31% |
| South Dakota | 2,050 | 1.46 | $59,500 | $47,260 | $75,880 | -1% | 20% |
| Tennessee | 10,660 | 1.06 | $52,000 | $41,600 | $75,430 | -13% | 30% |
| Texas | 55,540 | 1.28 | $50,460 | $38,900 | $70,010 | -16% | 35% |
| Utah | 7,880 | 1.48 | $60,740 | $47,420 | $75,880 | +1% | 31% |
| Vermont | 1,280 | 1.37 | $58,870 | $50,270 | $73,860 | -2% | 27% |
| Virginia | 12,100 | 0.96 | $57,160 | $40,870 | $78,250 | -4% | 35% |
| Washington | 10,290 | 0.94 | $81,700 | $57,200 | $125,490 | +37% | 27% |
| West Virginia | 7,830 | 3.63 | $51,300 | $36,500 | $76,970 | -14% | 21% |
| Wisconsin | 8,140 | 0.90 | $75,280 | $51,370 | $100,140 | +26% | 18% |
| Wyoming | 3,800 | 4.40 | $62,960 | $48,370 | $85,630 | +5% | 19% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 400 | $124,990 | $67,880 | $132,440 | 1.78 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 4,080 | $124,750 | $60,910 | $149,260 | 0.56 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,360 | $124,340 | $60,680 | $152,760 | 0.39 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,430 | $117,630 | $60,990 | $129,170 | 1.04 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 710 | $105,080 | $56,900 | $144,270 | 1.12 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,930 | $103,100 | $58,060 | $124,160 | 0.57 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 420 | $97,770 | $55,130 | $97,770 | 1.64 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,860 | $95,750 | $59,830 | $128,420 | 0.76 |
| Vallejo, CA | 630 | $95,100 | $59,880 | $135,570 | 1.43 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,430 | $95,050 | $56,680 | $154,040 | 0.39 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 8,780 | $92,890 | $52,460 | $130,720 | 0.46 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 2,920 | $91,650 | $57,910 | $131,260 | 0.88 |
| Bellingham, WA | 400 | $91,510 | $61,450 | $127,010 | 1.41 |
| Modesto, CA | 430 | $90,560 | $52,020 | $131,850 | 0.71 |
| Peoria, IL | 330 | $86,440 | $46,100 | $102,680 | 0.65 |
| Evansville, IN | 510 | $84,500 | $51,430 | $94,090 | 1.23 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,130 | $83,670 | $54,520 | $136,080 | 0.66 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 340 | $83,460 | $47,350 | $95,360 | 1.09 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,270 | $83,340 | $60,100 | $104,250 | 0.71 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 780 | $83,290 | $53,740 | $131,870 | 0.78 |
| Madison, WI | 680 | $83,060 | $58,830 | $102,450 | 0.54 |
| Appleton, WI | 480 | $83,010 | $57,520 | $99,330 | 1.25 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,000 | $82,540 | $51,020 | $128,950 | 0.72 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | 430 | $82,390 | $65,210 | $101,080 | 3.82 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 4,190 | $82,270 | $47,210 | $100,810 | 1.02 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 600 | $82,250 | $61,770 | $110,990 | 0.48 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 3,700 | $82,190 | $49,650 | $97,130 | 1.09 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 400 | $81,500 | $52,560 | $131,060 | 0.66 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 360 | $80,460 | $48,010 | $102,020 | 0.88 |
| Salinas, CA | 340 | $80,320 | $59,730 | $131,930 | 0.60 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 460 | $79,850 | $59,880 | $122,580 | 1.15 |
| New Haven, CT | 450 | $79,840 | $61,580 | $107,290 | 0.52 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 700 | $79,530 | $58,980 | $98,390 | 2.20 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2,070 | $79,430 | $61,390 | $100,860 | 0.82 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 530 | $79,340 | $54,250 | $130,190 | 1.41 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,040 | $79,040 | $59,520 | $123,290 | 0.82 |
| Columbus, OH | 3,290 | $78,950 | $50,610 | $99,390 | 0.97 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,740 | $78,720 | $48,640 | $127,840 | 0.90 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 300 | $78,330 | $59,430 | $101,310 | 0.61 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,290 | $78,310 | $50,070 | $127,150 | 0.88 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,000 | $77,960 | $52,600 | $126,170 | 0.97 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 650 | $77,450 | $46,500 | $95,730 | 0.94 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 760 | $77,420 | $49,490 | $128,960 | 0.85 |
| Redding, CA | 340 | $77,090 | $56,880 | $123,570 | 1.54 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,230 | $77,050 | $49,440 | $126,110 | 1.14 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,370 | $76,940 | $54,010 | $125,860 | 0.77 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 990 | $76,740 | $59,450 | $106,490 | 0.54 |
| Anchorage, AK | 980 | $76,520 | $59,840 | $107,110 | 1.81 |
| Green Bay, WI | 420 | $76,290 | $52,560 | $115,070 | 0.79 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 320 | $76,240 | $49,970 | $128,480 | 0.61 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 770 | $75,040 | $47,790 | $95,140 | 2.01 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 700 | $74,360 | $52,110 | $107,640 | 0.90 |
| Salem, OR | 750 | $74,270 | $56,490 | $117,310 | 1.30 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 950 | $73,650 | $49,170 | $114,540 | 0.58 |
| Reno, NV | 1,290 | $73,260 | $54,810 | $108,140 | 1.53 |
| Springfield, MA | 670 | $73,070 | $49,080 | $122,810 | 1.09 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 400 | $72,920 | $52,630 | $122,280 | 1.38 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 590 | $72,240 | $57,000 | $121,460 | 0.71 |
| Cleveland, OH | 2,660 | $71,740 | $48,000 | $99,760 | 0.84 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 410 | $71,140 | $45,310 | $89,860 | 1.67 |
The median is $59,850 a year ($28.78 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $42,190 and the highest-paid tenth over $101,090 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
478,090 in May 2025, and BLS projects +4.6% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Hawaii, with a median of $115,860 (among states with published figures).