Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Watertown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,040 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Watertown earn between $57,720 and $64,650.
- $55K10th
- $58K25th
- $62KMedian
- $65K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,800 | $5,483 | $31.63 |
| Median | $62,340 | $5,195 | $29.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,720 | $4,810 | $27.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,650 | $5,388 | $31.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Watertown vs. New York and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Watertown earn 27% less than the New York average ($90,690) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,290). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $59,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | $65,800 | $62,340 | $54,970 | $76,040 | 190 |
| New York | $90,690 | $80,980 | $50,190 | $144,920 | 14,490 |
| 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 Watertown
On the average salary of $65,800, a single filer in Watertown takes home about $52,036 a year, or $4,336 a month and $2,001 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Watertown a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Watertown area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $65,800 buys what about $75,037 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Watertown ($47,600). A typical home costs $230,401, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other New York cities
Watertown ranks 12th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($100,710).
- New York$100,710
- Albany$87,970
- Kiryas Joel$81,390
- Syracuse$79,110
- Buffalo$77,990
- Kingston$75,870
- Utica$74,910
- Binghamton$74,790
- Rochester$74,720
- Watertown$65,800
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in New York
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 Watertown: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Watertown?
$31.64 an hour on average, and $29.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Watertown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Watertown?
About $52,036 a year ($4,336 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,800. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Watertown than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY (48060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.56, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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