Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Iowa City, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Iowa City, IA

Median annual salary $59,620 +1.5% vs national
Median hourly $28.67
10th percentile $48,790
90th percentile $78,670
Employed locally 230
National median $58,710

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

Type a city below to see how Iowa City, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Iowa City, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $48,790
    25th
    $54,620
    50th (median)
    $59,620
    75th
    $70,060
    90th
    $78,670

    Iowa City economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,142 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 80% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 20% 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 Iowa City, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $46,830
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $70,570
    Carpenters $49,670
    Electricians $62,670
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $60,120
    Highway Maintenance Workers $57,650

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Iowa City, IA is $28.67, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.02 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Iowa City, IA is 1.5% 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 Iowa City?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $48,790 per year in Iowa City, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $54,620.