Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in La Crosse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,140 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in La Crosse earn between $59,070 and $93,120.
- $49K10th
- $59K25th
- $71KMedian
- $93K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,830 | $6,069 | $35.01 |
| Median | $71,430 | $5,952 | $34.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,070 | $4,922 | $28.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,120 | $7,760 | $44.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in La Crosse vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in La Crosse earn 6% less than the Wisconsin average ($77,770) and 10% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | $72,830 | $71,430 | $48,660 | $100,140 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $77,770 | $75,280 | $51,370 | $100,140 | 8,140 |
| 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 La Crosse
On the average salary of $72,830, a single filer in La Crosse takes home about $57,251 a year, or $4,771 a month and $2,202 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $57,251 | $4,771 |
| Working in MN | $56,637 | $4,720 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is La Crosse a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the La Crosse area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $72,830 buys what about $79,362 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in La Crosse ($48,260). A typical home costs $335,330, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other Wisconsin cities
La Crosse ranks 13th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Racine pays the most ($83,110).
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in Wisconsin
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 La Crosse: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in La Crosse?
$35.01 an hour on average, and $34.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in La Crosse?
About $57,251 a year ($4,771 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,830.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in La Crosse than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more 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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN (29100). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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