Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $85,520 +45.7% vs national
Median hourly $41.11
10th percentile $58,600
90th percentile $125,410
Employed locally 4,470
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
Seattle, WA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $58,600
    25th
    $74,610
    50th (median)
    $85,520
    75th
    $117,720
    90th
    $125,410

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 76% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 24% 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
    Hawaii $105,440
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $98,610
    Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $84,130
    South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $82,460
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $80,550
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $79,590

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Carpenters $76,760
    Construction Laborers $59,690
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $105,650
    Electricians $101,600
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $87,160
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $59,270

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Seattle, WA is $41.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $61.74 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Seattle, WA is 45.7% 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 Seattle?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $58,600 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $74,610.