Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Texas
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,900
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,120
- 50th Percentile — Median$50,460
- 75th Percentile — Senior$59,990
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$70,010
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Texas earn more than $50,460. The top 10% make $70,010 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,900.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Texas: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Texas ranks 43rd of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $53,740 per year (18.9% below the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 55,540 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Texas — 11.6% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 1.28: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are more concentrated in Texas than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,900; the top 10% earn over $70,010.
- Hourly equivalent: $25.84 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in Texas, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($76,630).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Texas
Key factors affecting compensation
Texas's key industries are Energy, Technology, Healthcare, and its job market is rated strong. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $53,740 on average, placing the state 43rd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.95 (U.S. = 1.00), a Texas salary of $53,740 is roughly equivalent to $56,568 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Louisiana ($55,380), Tennessee ($55,050), New Mexico ($54,810) 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 Texas
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $76,630/yr Texas +42.6% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $69,810/yr Texas +29.9% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $60,780/yr Texas +13.1% vs this role
- Electricians $59,280/yr Texas +10.3% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $56,740/yr Texas +5.6% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $56,500/yr Texas +5.1% vs this role
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons $54,140/yr Texas +0.7% vs this role
- Carpet Installers $53,140/yr Texas 1.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Texas?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Texas is $53,740 per year (median $50,460), which is 18.9% below the national average of $66,290.
How does Texas rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
Texas ranks 43rd 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 Texas?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Texas earn about $38,900 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,120.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Texas?
About $25.84 per hour, based on the $53,740 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Texas?
BLS counts 55,540 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Texas (OEWS May 2025).
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