BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Alabama

$50,680 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$24.37 per hour

▼ 23.5% below U.S. average47th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$50,680per year
Median$47,520per year
Hourly$24.37per hour
10th – 90th percentile$36,230 – $67,690per year

Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Alabama

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$36,230
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$39,780
  • 50th Percentile — Median$47,520
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$57,540
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$67,690

Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Alabama earn more than $47,520. The top 10% make $67,690 or more, while entry-level workers start around $36,230.

Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Alabama: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Alabama ranks 47th of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $50,680 per year (23.5% below the U.S. average of $66,290).
  • 9,640 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Alabama — 2.0% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.48: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are more concentrated in Alabama than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,230; the top 10% earn over $67,690.
  • Hourly equivalent: $24.37 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
  • Among construction jobs in Alabama, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($71,050).

Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Alabama

Key factors affecting compensation

Alabama's key industries are Automotive, Aerospace, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $50,680 on average, placing the state 47th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a Alabama salary of $50,680 is roughly equivalent to $58,253 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Texas ($53,740), Florida ($52,590), North Carolina ($52,310) are the closest alternatives for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Alabama?

The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Alabama is $50,680 per year (median $47,520), which is 23.5% below the national average of $66,290.

How does Alabama rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?

Alabama ranks 47th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($102,020/yr).

How much do entry-level Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make in Alabama?

The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Alabama earn about $36,230 per year and the 25th percentile is $39,780.

How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Alabama?

About $24.37 per hour, based on the $50,680 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Alabama?

BLS counts 9,640 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Alabama (OEWS May 2025).

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