Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Wisconsin
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$51,370
- 25th Percentile — Junior$61,520
- 50th Percentile — Median$75,280
- 75th Percentile — Senior$94,610
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$100,140
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Wisconsin earn more than $75,280. The top 10% make $100,140 or more, while entry-level workers start around $51,370.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Wisconsin: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Wisconsin ranks 12th of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $77,770 per year (17.3% above the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 8,140 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Wisconsin — 1.7% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.90: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are less concentrated in Wisconsin than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $51,370; the top 10% earn over $100,140.
- Hourly equivalent: $37.39 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in Wisconsin, Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers pays the most ($102,070).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Wisconsin
Key factors affecting compensation
Wisconsin's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $77,770 on average, placing the state 12th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.92 (U.S. = 1.00), a Wisconsin salary of $77,770 is roughly equivalent to $84,533 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Connecticut ($83,380), Alaska ($82,680), Oregon ($79,270) 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 Wisconsin
Related career salary benchmarks
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers $102,070/yr Wisconsin +31.2% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $87,010/yr Wisconsin +11.9% vs this role
- Pipelayers Plumbers Pipefitters Steamfitters $86,850/yr Wisconsin +11.7% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $85,460/yr Wisconsin +9.9% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $84,720/yr Wisconsin +8.9% vs this role
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons $78,140/yr Wisconsin +0.5% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $76,130/yr Wisconsin 2.1% vs this role
- Construction and Building Inspectors $75,490/yr Wisconsin 2.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Wisconsin?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Wisconsin is $77,770 per year (median $75,280), which is 17.3% above the national average of $66,290.
How does Wisconsin rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
Wisconsin ranks 12th 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 Wisconsin?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Wisconsin earn about $51,370 per year and the 25th percentile is $61,520.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Wisconsin?
About $37.39 per hour, based on the $77,770 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Wisconsin?
BLS counts 8,140 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Wisconsin (OEWS May 2025).
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