Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,520 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Knoxville earn between $44,130 and $57,700.
- $42K10th
- $44K25th
- $49KMedian
- $58K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,450 | $4,454 | $25.70 |
| Median | $48,690 | $4,058 | $23.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,130 | $3,678 | $21.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,700 | $4,808 | $27.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($55,050) and 19% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $53,450 | $48,690 | $41,790 | $78,520 | 1,210 |
| Tennessee | $55,050 | $52,000 | $41,600 | $75,430 | 10,660 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $53,450, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $45,127 a year, or $3,761 a month and $1,736 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $53,450 buys what about $57,741 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 6th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Kingsport pays the most ($57,900).
- Kingsport$57,900
- Nashville$57,270
- Memphis$55,080
- Chattanooga$54,870
- Clarksville$53,750
- Knoxville$53,450
- Cleveland$51,350
- Jackson$50,290
- Johnson City$50,120
- Morristown$49,950
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in Tennessee
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Knoxville?
$25.70 an hour on average, and $23.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $45,127 a year ($3,761 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,450. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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