Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,230 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Columbia earn between $43,310 and $56,270.
- $38K10th
- $43K25th
- $48KMedian
- $56K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,580 | $4,215 | $24.32 |
| Median | $48,410 | $4,034 | $23.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,310 | $3,609 | $20.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,270 | $4,689 | $27.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($51,640) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($66,290). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $59,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $50,580 | $48,410 | $38,150 | $62,230 | 1,120 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $50,580, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $41,783 a year, or $3,482 a month and $1,607 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $50,580 buys what about $54,003 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($54,890).
- 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 Columbia: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Columbia?
$24.32 an hour on average, and $23.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $41,783 a year ($3,482 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,580.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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