Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Lincoln, NE

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Lincoln, NE

Median annual salary $58,350 -0.6% vs national
Median hourly $28.05
10th percentile $45,610
90th percentile $69,720
Employed locally 520
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
Lincoln, NE
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $45,610
    25th
    $50,010
    50th (median)
    $58,350
    75th
    $63,740
    90th
    $69,720

    Lincoln economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,095 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $98,610
    New Jersey $84,170
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $81,770
    New York $80,260
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $79,500
    Minnesota $78,580

    Related occupations in Lincoln, NE

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $45,280
    Carpenters $49,180
    Electricians $60,860
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $76,560
    Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers $48,760
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $60,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Lincoln, NE is $28.05, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.26 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Lincoln, NE is 0.6% 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 Lincoln?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $45,610 per year in Lincoln, NE. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,010.