Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $71,240 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Durham earn between $47,030 and $61,610.
- $40K10th
- $47K25th
- $51KMedian
- $62K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,020 | $4,585 | $26.45 |
| Median | $50,820 | $4,235 | $24.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,030 | $3,919 | $22.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,610 | $5,134 | $29.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Durham earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($52,310) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($66,290). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $59,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $55,020 | $50,820 | $39,690 | $71,240 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $52,310 | $49,310 | $39,050 | $64,450 | 16,580 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $55,020, a single filer in Durham takes home about $44,702 a year, or $3,725 a month and $1,719 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $55,020 buys what about $56,389 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($55,090).
- Charlotte$55,090
- Durham$55,020
- Raleigh$54,460
- Fayetteville$52,230
- Burlington$51,740
- Greensboro$51,270
- Hickory$51,160
- Greenville$51,010
- Pinehurst$50,690
- Asheville$50,070
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in North Carolina
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 Durham: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Durham?
$26.45 an hour on average, and $24.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Durham?
About $44,702 a year ($3,725 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,020.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.45, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.45).
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