Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $49,150 -16.3% vs national
Median hourly $23.63
10th percentile $37,160
90th percentile $62,200
Employed locally 390
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
Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,160
    25th
    $43,270
    50th (median)
    $49,150
    75th
    $61,060
    90th
    $62,200

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 82% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 18% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $117,350
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $79,500
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $76,800
    Anchorage, AK $73,940
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $73,500
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $73,470

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Electricians $52,620
    Construction Laborers $39,970
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $65,540
    Carpenters $41,600
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $51,470
    Helpers--Electricians $38,070

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Hickory, NC is $23.63, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $34.09 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Hickory, NC is 16.3% 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $37,160 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,270.