Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Arkansas
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$35,520
- 25th Percentile — Junior$38,350
- 50th Percentile — Median$44,520
- 75th Percentile — Senior$49,860
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$58,670
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Arkansas earn more than $44,520. The top 10% make $58,670 or more, while entry-level workers start around $35,520.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Arkansas: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Arkansas ranks 51st of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $45,890 per year (30.8% below the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 5,800 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Arkansas — 1.2% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 1.45: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are more concentrated in Arkansas than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,520; the top 10% earn over $58,670.
- Hourly equivalent: $22.06 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in Arkansas, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($65,690).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Arkansas
Key factors affecting compensation
Arkansas's key industries are Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated moderate. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $45,890 on average, placing the state 51st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Arkansas salary of $45,890 is roughly equivalent to $55,289 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alabama ($50,680), Oklahoma ($50,110), Mississippi ($50,010) 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
Other Construction Jobs in Arkansas
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $65,690/yr Arkansas +43.1% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $57,710/yr Arkansas +25.8% vs this role
- Electricians $53,470/yr Arkansas +16.5% vs this role
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons $52,700/yr Arkansas +14.8% vs this role
- Carpenters $51,350/yr Arkansas +11.9% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $50,640/yr Arkansas +10.4% vs this role
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers $46,320/yr Arkansas +0.9% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $46,020/yr Arkansas +0.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Arkansas?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Arkansas is $45,890 per year (median $44,520), which is 30.8% below the national average of $66,290.
How does Arkansas rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
Arkansas ranks 51st 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 Arkansas?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Arkansas earn about $35,520 per year and the 25th percentile is $38,350.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Arkansas?
About $22.06 per hour, based on the $45,890 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Arkansas?
BLS counts 5,800 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Arkansas (OEWS May 2025).
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