Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$44,620
- 25th Percentile — Junior$49,040
- 50th Percentile — Median$57,780
- 75th Percentile — Senior$65,720
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$80,890
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Kentucky earn more than $57,780. The top 10% make $80,890 or more, while entry-level workers start around $44,620.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 34th of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $59,320 per year (10.5% below the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 7,050 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Kentucky — 1.5% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 1.15: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,620; the top 10% earn over $80,890.
- Hourly equivalent: $28.52 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($74,220).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $59,320 on average, placing the state 34th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $59,320 is roughly equivalent to $71,470 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Utah ($60,840), Delaware ($60,690), Vermont ($60,310) 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
Other Construction Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $74,220/yr Kentucky +25.1% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $68,870/yr Kentucky +16.1% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $66,980/yr Kentucky +12.9% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $66,580/yr Kentucky +12.2% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $63,790/yr Kentucky +7.5% vs this role
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers $62,670/yr Kentucky +5.6% vs this role
- Electricians $61,410/yr Kentucky +3.5% vs this role
- Insulation Workers $60,630/yr Kentucky +2.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Kentucky?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Kentucky is $59,320 per year (median $57,780), which is 10.5% below the national average of $66,290.
How does Kentucky rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
Kentucky ranks 34th 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 Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Kentucky earn about $44,620 per year and the 25th percentile is $49,040.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Kentucky?
About $28.52 per hour, based on the $59,320 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 7,050 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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