Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Watertown, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Median annual salary $62,340 +6.2% vs national
Median hourly $29.97
10th percentile $53,290
90th percentile $101,140
Employed locally 180
National median $58,710

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

Type a city below to see how Watertown, NY stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Watertown, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $53,290
    25th
    $57,720
    50th (median)
    $62,340
    75th
    $72,320
    90th
    $101,140

    Watertown economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,978 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 96% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 4% 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
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $98,610
    Binghamton, NY $73,740
    Kingston, NY $71,720
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $71,450
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $70,550

    Related occupations in Watertown, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers$45,650
    Highway Maintenance Workers$48,890
    Carpenters$57,430
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$65,640
    Electricians$76,980
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$62,960

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Watertown, NY is $29.97, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.56 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Watertown, NY is 6.2% 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 Watertown?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $53,290 per year in Watertown, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $57,720.