Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $65,030 +10.8% vs national
Median hourly $31.27
10th percentile $48,830
90th percentile $111,420
Employed locally 1,110
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
in
Buffalo, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $48,830
    25th
    $50,430
    50th (median)
    $65,030
    75th
    $93,800
    90th
    $111,420

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 92% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 8% 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $98,610
    Binghamton, NY $73,740
    Kingston, NY $71,720
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $71,450
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $70,550

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $48,850
    Carpenters $59,130
    Electricians $78,590
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $80,780
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $73,760
    Highway Maintenance Workers $49,920

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Buffalo, NY is $31.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $55.07 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Buffalo, NY is 10.8% 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 Buffalo?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $48,830 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,430.