Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,090 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Charleston earn between $48,660 and $61,750.
- $41K10th
- $49K25th
- $51KMedian
- $62K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,890 | $4,574 | $26.39 |
| Median | $50,640 | $4,220 | $24.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,660 | $4,055 | $23.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,750 | $5,146 | $29.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Charleston earn 6% more than the South Carolina average ($51,640) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $54,890 | $50,640 | $40,540 | $72,090 | 1,470 |
| South Carolina | $51,640 | $48,940 | $38,720 | $64,330 | 8,160 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $54,890, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $44,960 a year, or $3,747 a month and $1,729 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $54,890 buys what about $54,367 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$54,890
- Hilton Head Island$54,360
- Spartanburg$51,840
- Greenville$51,530
- Florence$50,940
- Columbia$50,580
- Sumter$50,110
- Myrtle Beach$48,590
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in South 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 Charleston: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Charleston?
$26.39 an hour on average, and $24.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Charleston?
About $44,960 a year ($3,747 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,890.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Charleston 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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