Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in West Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$36,500
- 25th Percentile — Junior$42,630
- 50th Percentile — Median$51,300
- 75th Percentile — Senior$61,690
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$76,970
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in West Virginia earn more than $51,300. The top 10% make $76,970 or more, while entry-level workers start around $36,500.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in West Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- West Virginia ranks 42nd of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $54,480 per year (17.8% below the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 7,830 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in West Virginia — 1.6% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 3.63: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are more concentrated in West Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,500; the top 10% earn over $76,970.
- Hourly equivalent: $26.19 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in West Virginia, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($86,780).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in West Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation
West Virginia's key industries are Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated low. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $54,480 on average, placing the state 42nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.78 (U.S. = 1.00), a West Virginia salary of $54,480 is roughly equivalent to $69,846 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Kansas ($57,540), Louisiana ($55,380), Tennessee ($55,050) 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
Other Construction Jobs in West Virginia
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $86,780/yr West Virginia +59.3% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $68,180/yr West Virginia +25.1% vs this role
- Electricians $67,840/yr West Virginia +24.5% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $67,180/yr West Virginia +23.3% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $61,250/yr West Virginia +12.4% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $58,780/yr West Virginia +7.9% vs this role
- Pipelayers $55,160/yr West Virginia +1.2% vs this role
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers $50,610/yr West Virginia 7.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in West Virginia?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in West Virginia is $54,480 per year (median $51,300), which is 17.8% below the national average of $66,290.
How does West Virginia rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
West Virginia ranks 42nd 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 West Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in West Virginia earn about $36,500 per year and the 25th percentile is $42,630.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in West Virginia?
About $26.19 per hour, based on the $54,480 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in West Virginia?
BLS counts 7,830 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in West Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
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