Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Asheville, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Asheville, NC

Median annual salary $48,210 -17.9% vs national
Median hourly $23.18
10th percentile $40,900
90th percentile $62,460
Employed locally 490
National median $58,710

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

Type a city below to see how Asheville, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Asheville, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,900
    25th
    $44,300
    50th (median)
    $48,210
    75th
    $51,870
    90th
    $62,460

    Asheville economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,236 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 70% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 30% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $117,350
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $79,500
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $76,800
    Anchorage, AK $73,940
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $73,500
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $73,470

    Related occupations in Asheville, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $40,750
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $67,160
    Electricians $50,760
    Carpenters $47,620
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $61,840
    Helpers--Electricians $38,950

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Asheville, NC is $23.18, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.53 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Asheville, NC is 17.9% below 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 Asheville?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $40,900 per year in Asheville, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,300.