BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Rhode Island

$72,470 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$34.84 per hour

▲ 9.3% above U.S. average16th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$72,470per year
Median$63,610per year
Hourly$34.84per hour
10th – 90th percentile$52,460 – $98,870per year

Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Rhode Island

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$52,460
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$61,660
  • 50th Percentile — Median$63,610
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$83,820
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$98,870

Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Rhode Island earn more than $63,610. The top 10% make $98,870 or more, while entry-level workers start around $52,460.

Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Rhode Island: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Rhode Island ranks 16th of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $72,470 per year (9.3% above the U.S. average of $66,290).
  • 970 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Rhode Island — 0.2% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.63: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are less concentrated in Rhode Island than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $52,460; the top 10% earn over $98,870.
  • Hourly equivalent: $34.84 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
  • Among construction jobs in Rhode Island, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($97,550).

Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Rhode Island

Key factors affecting compensation

Rhode Island's key industries are Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated moderate. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $72,470 on average, placing the state 16th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.15 (U.S. = 1.00), a Rhode Island salary of $72,470 is roughly equivalent to $63,017 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Wisconsin ($77,770), District of Columbia ($76,470), Nevada ($76,050) 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

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Rhode Island?

The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Rhode Island is $72,470 per year (median $63,610), which is 9.3% above the national average of $66,290.

How does Rhode Island rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?

Rhode Island ranks 16th 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 Rhode Island?

The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Rhode Island earn about $52,460 per year and the 25th percentile is $61,660.

How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Rhode Island?

About $34.84 per hour, based on the $72,470 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Rhode Island?

BLS counts 970 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Rhode Island (OEWS May 2025).

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