Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary

The median operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in the United States is $59,850 per year ($28.78/hour). Salaries range from $42,190 at the entry level to $101,090+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 478,090 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3.6% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$59,850
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.78
per hour
Employment
478,090
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$42,190
25th percentile
$48,680
Median
$59,850
75th percentile
$77,170
90th percentile
$101,090

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+3.6%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

41,900
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorss.

Operating engineers run heavy iron on construction sites β€” Cat D6 / D8 / D10 dozers, 320 / 336 excavators, 966 / 980 wheel loaders, 140M / 12M motor graders, 416 backhoes, articulated dump trucks, off-highway haul trucks, rough-terrain cranes. Employers: Kiewit + Granite Construction + Turner + Skanska USA + Sundt + Balfour Beatty + Cianbro + Bechtel + Fluor on the heavy-civil side; road-building + earthworks + wind-energy sitework; DOT-funded highways; oil + gas pipeline; residential + commercial excavation. Union sites organize through the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) β€” Local 3 (Nor Cal + NV + UT + HI), Local 12 (SoCal + AZ + NM), Local 15 (NYC), Local 302 (Pacific NW), Local 542 (E PA + DE), Local 825 (NJ). Median $59,850; p10 $42,190 for apprentices in year 1-2; p90 $101,090 for journeyman crane + master mechanic operators on Davis-Bacon federal jobs + high-metro. Employment 478k nationwide.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Machine-specific proficiency (Cat + Komatsu + Deere + Volvo)
Bulldozers (Cat D6 / D8 / D10, Komatsu D65 / D85 / D155), excavators (Cat 320 / 336 / 349, Komatsu PC200 / PC290 / PC360), wheel loaders (Cat 950 / 966 / 980, Komatsu WA320 / WA470), motor graders (Cat 140M / 12M, Komatsu GD655), backhoes (Cat 416 / 420, JCB 3CX). Each has its own controls (SAE J1939 pattern vs excavator ISO / SAE), joystick vs pedal setup, hydraulic feel.
Grade + stake reading + GPS grading (Trimble + Topcon)
Reading blue-top / red-top grade stakes, hub + tack, cut / fill callouts on the stake tally. Modern earthworks: GPS-guided grade control (Trimble Earthworks, Topcon MC-Max) on dozer + excavator + grader β€” laser + rover + base station setup, mission file loading, on-machine +/- indicator.
Daily preventive maintenance (walk-around + fluids + track / tire)
Pre-op inspection every shift β€” engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, DEF, fuel water separator, greasing points (10-40 depending on machine), track tension + bolt torque, tire pressure, undercarriage wear check, cab controls + safety devices, backup alarm, seatbelt, ROPS / FOPS integrity, fire extinguisher.
OSHA 10 / OSHA 30 (Construction)
OSHA 10 minimum for all workers on federal + most private jobs; OSHA 30 for foremen + master mechanics. Silica, fall protection, trenching + shoring, cranes + rigging, lockout / tagout, hazard communication β€” every module maps to a common site incident.
Whole-body vibration + noise + heat exposure control
OSHA exposure limits on hand-arm vibration + noise (85 dB A action, 90 dB PEL). Cat + Komatsu + Deere have low-vibration cabs and active seat suspension; hearing protection on smaller machines + when off cab; heat-illness prevention with hydration + shaded breaks especially on desert + summer schedules.
Trenching + shoring + confined-space work
OSHA excavation rules β€” no worker in a trench β‰₯5' without protective system (shoring, sloping, benching, trench box). Competent-person inspection every shift + after rain. Utility locates (811 before digging), depth marking, spoil-pile setback (2' minimum from lip).
Rigging + hand signals + crane operator interaction
For excavator operators moving pipe or precast: sling selection, load charts, hand signals (per ASME B30.5), pick-and-place coordination with the rigger. NCCCO crane operator cert commands a $6-10/hr premium.
IUOE apprenticeship discipline (~7,000 hrs OJT + 576 classroom)
3-4 year union apprenticeship β€” hall-out through the Local. Progression through wage steps (40% β†’ 55% β†’ 70% β†’ 85% β†’ 100% of journeyman rate). Required classroom modules: safety, blueprint reading, hydraulic theory, grade + stake, GPS grading, environmental compliance (SWPPP, dewatering), first aid + CPR.

How to Become a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

  1. 1
    Get OSHA 10, valid driver's license, high-school diploma / GED
    OSHA 10 is $95-150 online + a legal requirement on almost every federal-funded site. CDL Class A adds a large lever β€” it lets you drive the water truck, lowboy, or belly-dump between operating seats.
  2. 2
    Apply to the IUOE Local hall or a non-union apprenticeship
    IUOE apprenticeship application windows are Local-specific β€” Local 3 (Nor Cal), Local 12 (SoCal), Local 15 (NYC), Local 302 (Pacific NW), Local 542 (E PA / DE). Non-union path via AGC / ABC apprenticeship or NCCER credentialing at community colleges.
  3. 3
    Complete apprenticeship (~7,000 hrs OJT + 576 classroom over 3-4 yrs)
    Apprentice wage starts ~$18-26/hr (40% of journeyman) and steps up every 6-12 months. Rotate through dozer + excavator + loader + grader + roller assignments; log every hour + machine hour toward journeyman turn-out.
  4. 4
    Turn out as a journeyman operator
    Journeyman wage $32-48/hr base + benefits + pension + annuity (IUOE Local rates vary by geography). Highest rates: NYC / SF Bay / Seattle / Boston / Chicago at $52-72/hr all-in. Davis-Bacon federal wage on federally-funded jobs adds a premium.
  5. 5
    Specialize (crane, master mechanic, grade foreman, GPS specialist)
    NCCCO crane operator cert (mobile crane / tower / articulating boom) β€” $85-120k+ on major projects. Master mechanic runs shop + field repairs β€” $95-135k. Grade foreman / GPS specialist runs a spread β€” $95-140k. Foreman + Sr Foreman + General Foreman $110-175k+.

Career Progression

Apprentice Operator (Year 1-4, IUOE registered apprenticeship)
0-4 yrs$42-72k ($18-32/hr wage steps 40% β†’ 100% of journeyman + benefits + pension credit)
  • β€’Rotate through dozer + excavator + loader + grader + roller assignments on jobsites
  • β€’Log OJT hours + classroom modules toward journeyman turn-out (~7,000 hrs OJT total)
  • β€’Daily preventive maintenance walk-around; assist master mechanic on field repairs
  • β€’OSHA 10 β†’ 30, First Aid / CPR, silica competent-person, and other safety modules
Next: Journeyman Operator on turn-out at 3-4 years (test + hours + classroom complete).
Journeyman Operator
3-10 yrs$68-110k ($32-52/hr base + benefits + pension + annuity + OT + Davis-Bacon premium)
  • β€’Own a machine for the shift β€” dozer, excavator, loader, grader β€” hit production target set by foreman
  • β€’Read blueprint + grade stakes + GPS mission; cut / fill to spec
  • β€’Daily walk-around + operator-level maintenance; escalate to master mechanic on shop-level issues
  • β€’Mentor apprentices; sign off on training hours for their turn-out
Next: Sr Operator / Grade Foreman / GPS Specialist at 6-12 years, or NCCCO crane track.
Sr Operator / Grade Foreman / NCCCO Crane Operator / Master Mechanic
6-15 yrs$95-145k ($45-68/hr all-in; NCCCO crane + master mechanic $110-165k on major projects)
  • β€’Own the top machine on a spread (Cat D10, Komatsu D155, or a Cat 349 excavator on the deep utility)
  • β€’Grade Foreman: run the earthworks spread β€” dozer + scraper + grader + rollers; direct the survey crew
  • β€’GPS Specialist: set up base stations, calibrate rovers, load mission files, troubleshoot machine control
  • β€’Master Mechanic: run field repairs on the fleet β€” hydraulic, electrical, engine, undercarriage
Next: Foreman / Sr Foreman / Superintendent at 10-18 years.
Foreman / Superintendent / Project Superintendent
12+ yrs$110-190k+ salaried + per diem + truck + retention bonus at Kiewit / Granite / Turner
  • β€’Run a spread (Foreman: 8-20 operators + laborers) or a full jobsite (Superintendent: 40-200)
  • β€’Own safety, production, quality, schedule for the earthworks / utility / structure scope
  • β€’Coordinate with survey, engineering, subs, DOT inspectors, and the client PM
  • β€’Career fork: stay in field ops β†’ Sr Super β†’ PM β†’ Project Executive, or move to General Foreman / master mechanic dispatch
Next: Project Manager / Project Executive ($175-285k+) or industry Sr Superintendent GC.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through your daily pre-op on a Cat 336.technical
Ground-level walk-around first: undercarriage β€” track tension, bolts, pads, sprocket wear; hydraulic hoses + cylinders for leaks; boom + stick + bucket pins + bushings for wear; grease points (16 on the 336 F). Fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic tank sight glass, DEF, fuel water separator drain. Cab: seat + belt + ROPS integrity, controls response, backup alarm, horn, mirrors, glass, fire extinguisher, first aid, JSA / task hazard analysis for the day. Start-up: warm-up per manual (2-3 min at low idle), cycle boom + stick + bucket + swing before loading. Log everything in the operator's daily log. Interviewers want to hear you actually walk the machine every shift.
Q2. Describe how you'd cut a mass excavation to grade on GPS control.technical
Load the mission file into the Trimble Earthworks or Topcon MC-Max controller. Verify base station location and radio link. Check calibration with a rover on a known point. Start with rough cut β€” leave 6-12" above grade for the finish pass. Watch the on-machine +/- indicator; keep the bucket engaged with the tag line, never scrape the finish surface with the bucket teeth. Finish pass with a smooth bucket and a light touch; hold grade within 0.05' to 0.1' tolerance. Cross-check with a survey rover on a witness point periodically. Interviewer screen: do you understand GPS is a tool, not a substitute for judgment?
Q3. Tell me about a time you refused to run an unsafe piece of equipment.behavioral
STAR. Situation: I did a walk-around on a Cat 966 loader and found a cracked ROPS mount + a leaking rear axle seal. Task: refuse the ticket, escalate, get it fixed. Action: I told the foreman, red-tagged the machine, called the master mechanic, took the alternate loader for the shift. Result: the ROPS crack was structural β€” the loader was down 2 days for repair, and my Local rep + safety captain used it as a training example at the next safety huddle. Interviewer screen: do you trust your own judgment on safety even when it costs the shift production?
Q4. How do you feel about the IUOE hall-out system?culture
Direct answer: the hall-out system is how union jobs get filled β€” you sign the out-of-work list, take the calls in order, and drive to wherever the job is. It's how apprentices build machine variety (you'll run different iron on 6 different jobs in your first year), and it's how journeymen keep steady work across seasons. If you want a specific machine on a specific job every day, you're on the wrong side of the industry. Union operators embrace the hall-out; non-union operators bid direct to GCs. Both are legitimate; the interviewer is checking that you understand the model you're signing up for.
Q5. What's the worst mistake you've seen on a site, and what did you learn?behavioral
STAR. Situation: an operator swung a 349 excavator into a spotter I didn't see (blind side on the counterweight). Task: no injury but the near-miss taught the whole crew. Action: safety stand-down, retraining on the 360Β° halo rule, mandatory spotter for tight quarters, and a documented tailgate meeting on blind zones. Result: no incidents on that site for the remaining 8 months. Interviewer screen: are you the person who learns from a near-miss or the person who dismisses it?

Resume Template β€” Apprentice Operator (0-4 yrs, IUOE)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Apprentice Operator (0-4 yrs, IUOE)
  • β–ΈIUOE Local 302 apprentice, 4,800 OJT hrs logged on Cat D6T, 320, 966, and 140M; ready for turn-out Q2 FY25.
  • β–ΈOSHA 30 + First Aid / CPR + Silica competent-person + NCCER Core certified.
  • β–ΈZero recordables + zero preventable damage across 3 seasons on Kiewit heavy-civil highway job.
  • β–ΈGrade + stake reading and Trimble Earthworks Level 1 trained; CDL Class A held.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Skips or falsifies the daily walk-around β€” every field incident investigation starts with the pre-op log.
  • βœ—Runs equipment that failed lockout / tagout or ROPS / FOPS inspection β€” instant termination on most Kiewit / Granite / Turner sites.
  • βœ—No respect for grade β€” bucket teeth on the finish surface, ignoring the surveyor, wanting to eyeball it instead of using GPS.
  • βœ—Cell phone in cab β€” banned on almost every major-GC site; instant write-up or termination.
  • βœ—Attitude problem with laborers or spotters β€” spotters keep you from killing someone; treat them with respect.
  • βœ—Peak-season absenteeism during earthworks or paving windows β€” a no-show in July on a highway job doesn't get called back to that hall for a year.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Union vs non-union: IUOE journeyman rate is $32-52/hr base + $18-32/hr in benefits + pension + annuity = $50-82/hr all-in. Non-union direct-hire is lower base but often flexible on OT.
  • βœ“Davis-Bacon federal jobs: state-specific prevailing wage; a Highway job in NYC or SF can pay $95-140k on hours worked.
  • βœ“Metro premium: NYC (Local 15), SF Bay (Local 3), Seattle (Local 302), Chicago (Local 150), Boston (Local 4), Honolulu (Local 3) are the highest all-in rates in the country.
  • βœ“Specialty certs: NCCCO crane $6-12/hr; master mechanic $8-15/hr; GPS grading specialist $4-8/hr; blaster $10-20/hr.
  • βœ“OT: 8-4-1 or 10-4-1 schedules common; time-and-a-half after 8 or 40 hrs; double-time on Sundays / holidays at IUOE rates.
  • βœ“Per diem: out-of-town jobs pay $60-125/day per diem on top of wage β€” that's $18-38k a year of tax-advantaged income if you travel.
  • βœ“Foreman / Sr Foreman: salaried $110-175k + truck + gas card + retention bonus at major GCs (Kiewit / Granite / Turner / Skanska).

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  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$45K
$116Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Hawaii
$116K
+94%
Illinois
$98K
+63%
New Jersey
$90K
+50%
California
$87K
+46%
Washington
$82K
+37%
New York
$81K
+35%
Indiana
$80K
+33%
Minnesota
$79K
+32%
Connecticut
$79K
+32%
Alaska
$78K
+30%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Hawaii$115,860+93.6%
Illinois$97,740+63.3%
New Jersey$89,660+49.8%
California$87,160+45.6%
Washington$81,700+36.5%
New York$80,980+35.3%
Indiana$79,580+33.0%
Minnesota$79,130+32.2%
Connecticut$78,750+31.6%
Alaska$77,810+30.0%
1–10 of 51

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$124,990+108.8%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$124,750+108.4%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$124,340+107.8%
Urban Honolulu, HI$117,630+96.5%
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$105,080+75.6%
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$103,100+72.3%
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$103,060+72.2%
Decatur, IL$100,520+68.0%
Michigan City-La Porte, IN$98,120+63.9%
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$97,770+63.4%
1–10 of 395
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
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View Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary trend (2011–2024) β†’