Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,130 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Indianapolis earn between $61,520 and $92,770.
- $50K10th
- $62K25th
- $82KMedian
- $93K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,660 | $6,472 | $37.34 |
| Median | $82,190 | $6,849 | $39.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,520 | $5,127 | $29.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,770 | $7,731 | $44.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Indianapolis earn 3% more than the Indiana average ($75,300) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($66,290). At the median the gap is +37% against the U.S. median of $59,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $77,660 | $82,190 | $49,650 | $97,130 | 3,700 |
| Indiana | $75,300 | $79,580 | $47,630 | $98,850 | 11,520 |
| United States | $66,290 | $59,850 | $42,190 | $101,090 | 478,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $77,660, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $59,615 a year, or $4,968 a month and $2,293 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $77,660 buys what about $81,153 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 4th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Michigan City pays the most ($84,420).
- Michigan City$84,420
- South Bend$79,360
- Evansville$78,090
- Indianapolis$77,660
- Kokomo$77,140
- Lafayette$76,820
- Fort Wayne$73,600
- Columbus$71,010
- Muncie$66,820
- Elkhart$66,470
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in Indiana
Highest-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($111,400).
- San Jose, CA$111,400
- San Francisco, CA$110,300
- Kahului, HI$106,970
- Honolulu, HI$104,010
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,710
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by city
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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Indianapolis?
$37.34 an hour on average, and $39.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $59,615 a year ($4,968 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,660. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2073; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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