Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Salem, OR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salem, OR

Median annual salary $66,700 +13.6% vs national
Median hourly $32.07
10th percentile $52,120
90th percentile $106,850
Employed locally 750
National median $58,710

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

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

Full tool →
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Salem, OR
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $52,120
    25th
    $60,940
    50th (median)
    $66,700
    75th
    $96,040
    90th
    $106,850

    Salem economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,010 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 88% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 12% 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
    Rockford, IL $96,740
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $94,110
    California $89,120
    Peoria, IL $84,160
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $80,550

    Related occupations in Salem, OR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Carpenters $50,220
    Construction Laborers $49,600
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $92,660
    Electricians $82,740
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $47,960
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $79,600

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Salem, OR is $32.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $56.40 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Salem, OR is 13.6% 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 Salem?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $52,120 per year in Salem, OR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,940.