Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Birmingham, AL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Birmingham, AL

Median annual salary $50,700 -13.6% vs national
Median hourly $24.38
10th percentile $38,710
90th percentile $65,680
Employed locally 2,180
National median $58,710

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Birmingham, AL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,710
    25th
    $44,760
    50th (median)
    $50,700
    75th
    $56,020
    90th
    $65,680

    Birmingham economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,627 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 73% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 27% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $115,500
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $98,830
    Vallejo, CA $91,590
    California $89,120
    Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $84,130
    East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $81,290

    Related occupations in Birmingham, AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $37,290
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $68,650
    Electricians $53,780
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $56,910
    Carpenters $51,000
    Sheet Metal Workers $46,310

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Birmingham, AL is $24.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.73 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Birmingham, AL is 13.6% 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 Birmingham?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $38,710 per year in Birmingham, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,760.