Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $63,560 +8.3% vs national
Median hourly $30.56
10th percentile $50,180
90th percentile $82,980
Employed locally 1,250
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
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Des Moines, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $50,180
    25th
    $56,940
    50th (median)
    $63,560
    75th
    $78,480
    90th
    $82,980

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 75% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 25% 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
    California $89,120
    Peoria, IL $84,160
    Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $84,130
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $80,050
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $79,410
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $75,290

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $49,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $81,390
    Electricians $64,650
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $62,430
    Carpenters $59,940
    Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers $57,170

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Des Moines, IA is $30.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $39.89 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Des Moines, IA is 8.3% 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $50,180 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $56,940.