Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Reading, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Reading, PA

Median annual salary $57,530 -2% vs national
Median hourly $27.66
10th percentile $40,050
90th percentile $78,570
Employed locally 650
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
Reading, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,050
    25th
    $47,670
    50th (median)
    $57,530
    75th
    $64,420
    90th
    $78,570

    Reading economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,684 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 74% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 26% 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
    Champaign-Urbana, IL $92,410
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $83,780
    Napa, CA $82,450
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $81,770
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $66,700
    Lexington Park, MD $60,620

    Related occupations in Reading, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $47,950
    Carpenters $50,080
    Electricians $64,110
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $78,480
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $62,910
    Highway Maintenance Workers $58,940

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Reading, PA is $27.66, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $44.92 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Reading, PA is 2% 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 Reading?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $40,050 per year in Reading, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,670.