Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
SOC 47-2073BLS OEWS May 2025
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. Excludes “Extraction Workers” (47-5000) and “Crane and Tower Operators” (53-7021).
National median · BLS
$59,850
▲ +1.94%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$66,290
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
478,090
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$42,190
25th
$48,680
Median (50th)
$59,850
75th
$77,170
90th — top pay
$101,090
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
BLS projects employment of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators to grow 4.6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 39,200 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
489,500 → 511,800
+22,300 jobs
Projected change
+4.6%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
39,200
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
2.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operation and Control4.1
Equipment Maintenance3.3
Operations Monitoring3.3
Monitoring3.1
Active Listening3.0
Time Management3.0
Troubleshooting3.0
Active Learning2.9
Complex Problem Solving2.9
Coordination2.9
Top knowledge areas
Mechanical3.6
English Language3.3
Public Safety and Security3.1
Mathematics2.8
Administration and Management2.8
Customer and Personal Service2.7
Education and Training2.6
Transportation2.5
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WindowsMaintenance record softwareWork record software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What operating engineers and other construction equipment operators do
Learn and follow safety regulations.
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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $59,850.
