Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Charlottesville, VA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charlottesville, VA

Median annual salary $51,130 -12.9% vs national
Median hourly $24.58
10th percentile $39,210
90th percentile $65,350
Employed locally 300
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
Charlottesville, VA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,210
    25th
    $47,720
    50th (median)
    $51,130
    75th
    $59,220
    90th
    $65,350

    Charlottesville economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $90,552 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 56% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 44% 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
    Vallejo, CA $91,590
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $79,500
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $76,800
    Evansville, IN $76,790
    Nevada $72,780

    Related occupations in Charlottesville, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $78,900
    Electricians $62,500
    Construction Laborers $42,970
    Carpenters $53,120
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $54,400
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $43,340

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Charlottesville, VA is $24.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $41.20 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Charlottesville, VA is 12.9% 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 Charlottesville?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $39,210 per year in Charlottesville, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,720.