Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Tuscaloosa, AL

Median annual salary $48,900 -16.7% vs national
Median hourly $23.51
10th percentile $37,750
90th percentile $59,690
Employed locally 660
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
Tuscaloosa, AL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,750
    25th
    $42,060
    50th (median)
    $48,900
    75th
    $53,110
    90th
    $59,690

    Tuscaloosa economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $59,975 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 82% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 18% 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $115,500
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $98,830
    Vallejo, CA $91,590
    California $89,120
    Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $84,130
    East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $81,290

    Related occupations in Tuscaloosa, AL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $35,360
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $73,180
    Electricians $59,280
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $55,660
    Carpenters $48,620
    Highway Maintenance Workers $37,430

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Tuscaloosa, AL is $23.51, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.28 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Tuscaloosa, AL is 16.7% below 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 Tuscaloosa?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $37,750 per year in Tuscaloosa, AL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,060.