Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Grand Rapids, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

Median annual salary $62,300 +6.1% vs national
Median hourly $29.95
10th percentile $48,160
90th percentile $82,800
Employed locally 1,090
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
Grand Rapids, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $48,160
    25th
    $53,430
    50th (median)
    $62,300
    75th
    $76,860
    90th
    $82,800

    Grand Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,296 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 78% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 22% 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
    Bloomington, IL $93,510
    South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $82,460
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $81,770
    Michigan City-La Porte, IN $79,660
    Minnesota $78,580
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $77,510

    Related occupations in Grand Rapids, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers$48,340
    Carpenters$59,170
    Electricians$62,340
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,130
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$72,120
    Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,640

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Grand Rapids, MI is $29.95, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.80 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Grand Rapids, MI is 6.1% 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 Grand Rapids?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $48,160 per year in Grand Rapids, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $53,430.