Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Minnesota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$55,960
- 25th Percentile — Junior$63,310
- 50th Percentile — Median$79,130
- 75th Percentile — Senior$95,740
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$101,930
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Minnesota earn more than $79,130. The top 10% make $101,930 or more, while entry-level workers start around $55,960.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Minnesota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Minnesota ranks 11th of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $79,070 per year (19.3% above the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 8,590 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Minnesota — 1.8% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.95: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are less concentrated in Minnesota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $55,960; the top 10% earn over $101,930.
- Hourly equivalent: $38.01 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in Minnesota, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($94,970).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Minnesota
Key factors affecting compensation
Minnesota's key industries are Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated strong. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $79,070 on average, placing the state 11th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.0 (U.S. = 1.00), a Minnesota salary of $79,070 is roughly equivalent to $79,070 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Massachusetts ($84,730), Connecticut ($83,380), Alaska ($82,680) 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 Minnesota
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $94,970/yr Minnesota +20.1% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $92,680/yr Minnesota +17.2% vs this role
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons $91,330/yr Minnesota +15.5% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $90,440/yr Minnesota +14.4% vs this role
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons $90,380/yr Minnesota +14.3% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $86,700/yr Minnesota +9.6% vs this role
- Pipelayers Plumbers Pipefitters Steamfitters $85,080/yr Minnesota +7.6% vs this role
- Carpet Installers $81,180/yr Minnesota +2.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Minnesota?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Minnesota is $79,070 per year (median $79,130), which is 19.3% above the national average of $66,290.
How does Minnesota rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
Minnesota ranks 11th 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 Minnesota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Minnesota earn about $55,960 per year and the 25th percentile is $63,310.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Minnesota?
About $38.01 per hour, based on the $79,070 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Minnesota?
BLS counts 8,590 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Minnesota (OEWS May 2025).
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