Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in New Jersey
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,760
- 25th Percentile — Junior$64,100
- 50th Percentile — Median$89,660
- 75th Percentile — Senior$126,330
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$133,330
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in New Jersey earn more than $89,660. The top 10% make $133,330 or more, while entry-level workers start around $50,760.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in New Jersey: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- New Jersey ranks 3rd of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $93,270 per year (40.7% above the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 5,980 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in New Jersey — 1.3% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.45: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are less concentrated in New Jersey than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,760; the top 10% earn over $133,330.
- Hourly equivalent: $44.84 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in New Jersey, Structural Iron and Steel Workers pays the most ($112,660).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in New Jersey
Key factors affecting compensation
New Jersey's key industries are Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Technology, and its job market is rated strong. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $93,270 on average, placing the state 3rd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.28 (U.S. = 1.00), a New Jersey salary of $93,270 is roughly equivalent to $72,867 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($102,020), California ($94,000), New York ($90,690) 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 New Jersey
Related career salary benchmarks
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $112,660/yr New Jersey +20.8% vs this role
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers $112,650/yr New Jersey +20.8% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $107,160/yr New Jersey +14.9% vs this role
- Carpet Installers $97,430/yr New Jersey +4.5% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $92,590/yr New Jersey 0.7% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $88,620/yr New Jersey 5.0% vs this role
- Electricians $86,700/yr New Jersey 7.0% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $86,370/yr New Jersey 7.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in New Jersey?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in New Jersey is $93,270 per year (median $89,660), which is 40.7% above the national average of $66,290.
How does New Jersey rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
New Jersey ranks 3rd 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 New Jersey?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in New Jersey earn about $50,760 per year and the 25th percentile is $64,100.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in New Jersey?
About $44.84 per hour, based on the $93,270 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in New Jersey?
BLS counts 5,980 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in New Jersey (OEWS May 2025).
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