Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Columbus, GA-AL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbus, GA-AL

Median annual salary $44,670 -23.9% vs national
Median hourly $21.48
10th percentile $35,280
90th percentile $54,180
Employed locally 490
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
Columbus, GA-AL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,280
    25th
    $37,930
    50th (median)
    $44,670
    75th
    $46,720
    90th
    $54,180

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $57,762 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 77% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 23% 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
    Michigan City-La Porte, IN $79,660
    Sheboygan, WI $65,800
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $65,030
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $64,380
    Michigan $62,550
    Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $59,500

    Related occupations in Columbus, GA-AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $36,720
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $63,560
    Electricians $49,380
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $47,350
    Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining $41,770
    Carpenters $44,470

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Columbus, GA-AL is $21.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.19 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Columbus, GA-AL is 23.9% 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 Columbus?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $35,280 per year in Columbus, GA-AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,930.