Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Allentown, PA-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Median annual salary $59,840 +1.9% vs national
Median hourly $28.77
10th percentile $44,740
90th percentile $90,200
Employed locally 820
National median $58,710

Compare Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary & buying power

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
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Allentown, PA-NJ
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,740
    25th
    $49,800
    50th (median)
    $59,840
    75th
    $66,700
    90th
    $90,200

    Allentown economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,602 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 72% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 28% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $117,350
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $115,500
    Urban Honolulu, HI $109,740
    Hawaii $105,440
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $101,200
    Springfield, IL $99,950

    Nearby metros — Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Champaign-Urbana, IL $92,410
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $83,780
    Napa, CA $82,450
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $81,770
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $66,700
    Lexington Park, MD $60,620

    Related occupations in Allentown, PA-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $48,430
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $79,350
    Carpenters $59,000
    Electricians $66,870
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $65,210
    Highway Maintenance Workers $56,850

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators make per hour in Allentown?

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Allentown, PA-NJ is $28.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.06 or more per hour.

    Is Allentown above or below average for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries?

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Allentown, PA-NJ is 1.9% above the national median of $58,710. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Allentown?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $44,740 per year in Allentown, PA-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,800.