Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Louisiana
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$37,440
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,440
- 50th Percentile — Median$51,700
- 75th Percentile — Senior$62,230
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$75,180
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Louisiana earn more than $51,700. The top 10% make $75,180 or more, while entry-level workers start around $37,440.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Louisiana: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Louisiana ranks 39th of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $55,380 per year (16.5% below the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 7,860 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Louisiana — 1.6% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 1.32: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are more concentrated in Louisiana than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,440; the top 10% earn over $75,180.
- Hourly equivalent: $26.62 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in Louisiana, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($76,740).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Louisiana
Key factors affecting compensation
Louisiana's key industries are Energy, Tourism, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $55,380 on average, placing the state 39th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Louisiana salary of $55,380 is roughly equivalent to $62,932 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Virginia ($58,400), Nebraska ($58,240), Maine ($58,230) 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 Louisiana
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $76,740/yr Louisiana +38.6% vs this role
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers $76,060/yr Louisiana +37.3% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $71,070/yr Louisiana +28.3% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $62,830/yr Louisiana +13.5% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $62,620/yr Louisiana +13.1% vs this role
- Electricians $62,350/yr Louisiana +12.6% vs this role
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons $54,990/yr Louisiana 0.7% vs this role
- Pipelayers $53,140/yr Louisiana 4.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Louisiana?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Louisiana is $55,380 per year (median $51,700), which is 16.5% below the national average of $66,290.
How does Louisiana rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
Louisiana ranks 39th 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 Louisiana?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Louisiana earn about $37,440 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,440.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Louisiana?
About $26.62 per hour, based on the $55,380 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Louisiana?
BLS counts 7,860 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Louisiana (OEWS May 2025).
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