Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Median annual salary $49,860 -15.1% vs national
Median hourly $23.97
10th percentile $39,060
90th percentile $68,060
Employed locally 2,200
National median $58,710

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

Type a city below to see how Virginia Beach, VA-NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
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Virginia Beach, VA-NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,060
    25th
    $46,810
    50th (median)
    $49,860
    75th
    $60,600
    90th
    $68,060

    Virginia Beach economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,533 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 62% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 38% 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
    Vallejo, CA $91,590
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $79,500
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $76,800
    Evansville, IN $76,790
    Nevada $72,780

    Related occupations in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Electricians $60,790
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $80,850
    Construction Laborers $38,730
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $61,020
    Carpenters $49,010
    Sheet Metal Workers $61,800

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is $23.97, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.44 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is 15.1% 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 Virginia Beach?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $39,060 per year in Virginia Beach, VA-NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,810.