Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Career, Salary and Skills
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $59,850 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 478,090. Wage data is published for 446 locations.
Occupation description
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
O*NET code
47-2073.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$59,850
Hourly median
$28.78
Employment
478,090
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.88 | 2.50 |
| Coordination | 2.88 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
- Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
- Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
- Learn and follow safety regulations.
Technology
- Maintenance record software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
- Work record software
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in TXMedian $50,460 · Employment 55,540
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in CAMedian $87,160 · Employment 36,020
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in FLMedian $49,400 · Employment 27,510
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in PAMedian $60,530 · Employment 22,120
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in OHMedian $64,940 · Employment 16,920
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in NCMedian $49,310 · Employment 16,580
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in GAMedian $47,880 · Employment 15,700
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in NYMedian $80,980 · Employment 14,490
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Houston, TXMedian $51,040 · Employment 14,000
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in AZMedian $60,620 · Employment 13,200
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in ILMedian $97,740 · Employment 12,290
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in VAMedian $57,160 · Employment 12,100
Related careers
- Dredge OperatorsNational median $49,640
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralNational median $49,590
- Maintenance Workers, MachineryNational median $60,850
- Industrial Machinery MechanicsNational median $64,520
- Highway Maintenance WorkersNational median $50,260
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsNational median $70,070
- RiggersNational median $62,640
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningNational median $74,500
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.