Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$46,690
- 25th Percentile — Junior$53,610
- 50th Percentile — Median$60,330
- 75th Percentile — Senior$72,660
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$87,460
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Iowa earn more than $60,330. The top 10% make $87,460 or more, while entry-level workers start around $46,690.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 26th of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $63,770 per year (3.8% below the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 5,530 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Iowa — 1.2% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 1.15: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are more concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,690; the top 10% earn over $87,460.
- Hourly equivalent: $30.66 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in Iowa, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($80,500).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $63,770 on average, placing the state 26th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $63,770 is roughly equivalent to $74,151 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Michigan ($66,920), Pennsylvania ($65,920), Colorado ($64,550) 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 Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $80,500/yr Iowa +26.2% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $73,110/yr Iowa +14.6% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $71,050/yr Iowa +11.4% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $70,030/yr Iowa +9.8% vs this role
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons $65,890/yr Iowa +3.3% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $65,480/yr Iowa +2.7% vs this role
- Electricians $63,190/yr Iowa 0.9% vs this role
- Pipelayers $60,140/yr Iowa 5.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Iowa?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Iowa is $63,770 per year (median $60,330), which is 3.8% below the national average of $66,290.
How does Iowa rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
Iowa ranks 26th 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 Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Iowa earn about $46,690 per year and the 25th percentile is $53,610.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Iowa?
About $30.66 per hour, based on the $63,770 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Iowa?
BLS counts 5,530 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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