Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fort Smith, AR-OK

Median annual salary $38,880 -33.8% vs national
Median hourly $18.69
10th percentile $30,900
90th percentile $49,270
Employed locally 410
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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Fort Smith, AR-OK
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,900
    25th
    $36,800
    50th (median)
    $38,880
    75th
    $43,960
    90th
    $49,270

    Fort Smith economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,717 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 69% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 31% 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
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $94,110
    Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $84,130
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $82,740
    East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $81,290

    Related occupations in Fort Smith, AR-OK

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $35,260
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $58,070
    Electricians $49,510
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $49,440
    Carpenters $38,580
    Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers $39,210

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $18.69, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.64 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK is 33.8% 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 Fort Smith?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $30,900 per year in Fort Smith, AR-OK. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,800.