Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • St. Louis, MO-IL

Median annual salary $81,260 +38.4% vs national
Median hourly $39.07
10th percentile $49,990
90th percentile $100,840
Employed locally 3,690
National median $58,710

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

Type a city below to see how St. Louis, MO-IL stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
St. Louis, MO-IL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $49,990
    25th
    $58,340
    50th (median)
    $81,260
    75th
    $91,660
    90th
    $100,840

    St. Louis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $78,225 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 104% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 4% above 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $117,350
    Modesto, CA $87,030
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $80,550
    Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $77,020
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $72,060
    Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $70,910

    Related occupations in St. Louis, MO-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Carpenters $65,090
    Construction Laborers $63,600
    Electricians $79,280
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $91,360
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $73,060
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $57,180

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators make per hour in St. Louis?

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in St. Louis, MO-IL is $39.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.47 or more per hour.

    Is St. Louis above or below average for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries?

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in St. Louis, MO-IL is 38.4% 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 St. Louis?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $49,990 per year in St. Louis, MO-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $58,340.