Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $41,820 a year ($20.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,170 for the top 10%. That is 30% lower than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 6% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $44,520. There are 4.7 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,480 | $17.06 |
| 25th percentile | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Median | $41,820 | $20.11 |
| 75th percentile | $43,940 | $21.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Average (mean) | $42,260 | $20.32 |
Half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,485 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,742.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,608.46 |
| Weekly | $804.23 |
| Hourly | $20.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,870 | 1,140 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $50,090 | 900 |
| Enid, OK | $49,050 | 110 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $48,690 | 2,250 |
| Tulsa, OK | $48,420 | 1,530 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $46,800 | 280 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $46,290 | 1,230 |
| Lawton, OK | $46,030 | 210 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $45,590 | 240 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $37,760 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 |
| Illinois | $97,740 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 |
| California | $87,160 |
| Washington | $81,700 |
| New York | $80,980 |
| Indiana | $79,580 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 |
| Alaska | $77,810 |
See Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in every state or the Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| Electrician | $52,500 | $25.24 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $48,350 | $23.24 |
| Carpenter | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Roofer | $44,230 | $21.27 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Glazier | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $59,800 | $28.75 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $46,490 | $22.35 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2073. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $41,820 a year, or $20.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $49,170 a year. The top 25% earn $43,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,480 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $37,750 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 440 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.