Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in State College, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • State College, PA

Median annual salary $60,170 +2.5% vs national
Median hourly $28.93
10th percentile $44,930
90th percentile $96,850
Employed locally 390
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
State College, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,930
    25th
    $47,190
    50th (median)
    $60,170
    75th
    $86,120
    90th
    $96,850

    State College economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $72,748 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 83% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 17% 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 State College, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $55,540
    Carpenters $58,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $79,850
    Electricians $56,160
    Highway Maintenance Workers $50,380
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $60,200

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in State College, PA is $28.93, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.96 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in State College, PA is 2.5% 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 State College?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $44,930 per year in State College, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,190.