Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Houston, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Median annual salary $50,510 -14% vs national
Median hourly $24.28
10th percentile $39,500
90th percentile $70,400
Employed locally 13,150
National median $58,710

Compare Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Houston, TX stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Houston, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,500
    25th
    $46,250
    50th (median)
    $50,510
    75th
    $59,660
    90th
    $70,400

    Houston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,458 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 63% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 37% 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
    Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $54,320
    Midland, TX $53,450
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $50,740
    Amarillo, TX $50,310
    Odessa, TX $50,150
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $50,080

    Related occupations in Houston, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $38,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $75,150
    Electricians $59,180
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $60,230
    Carpenters $48,910
    Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers $47,150

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Houston, TX is $24.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $34.60 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Houston, TX is 14% 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 Houston?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $39,500 per year in Houston, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,250.