Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Trenton, NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Trenton-Princeton, NJ

Median annual salary $73,470 +25.1% vs national
Median hourly $35.32
10th percentile $42,860
90th percentile $131,700
Employed locally 260
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
Trenton, NJ
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $42,860
    25th
    $63,130
    50th (median)
    $73,470
    75th
    $126,610
    90th
    $131,700

    Trenton economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,333 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $98,610
    Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $77,020
    Vineland, NJ $73,280
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $66,700
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $59,840

    Related occupations in Trenton, NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $72,800
    Construction and Building Inspectors $81,220
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $102,190
    Electricians $83,940
    Carpenters $62,450
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $73,290

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Trenton, NJ is $35.32, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $60.10 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Trenton, NJ is 25.1% 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 Trenton?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $42,860 per year in Trenton, NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $63,130.