Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Grand Forks, ND-MN
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Grand Forks, ND-MN metro area earn a median of $61,520 a year ($29.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,570 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 1% lower than the North Dakota statewide median of $62,150. There are 7.0 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $66,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Grand Forks, ND-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| 25th percentile | $58,180 | $27.97 |
| Median | $61,520 | $29.58 |
| 75th percentile | $73,020 | $35.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,570 | $45.95 |
| Average (mean) | $66,150 | $31.80 |
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 | $5,126.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,563.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,366.15 |
| Weekly | $1,183.08 |
| Hourly | $29.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,520 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $83,340 | 4,270 |
| Rochester, MN | $79,580 | 290 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $79,530 | 700 |
| Mankato, MN | $78,560 | 150 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $75,040 | 770 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $71,430 | 120 |
| Minot, ND | $62,990 | 290 |
| Bismarck, ND | $62,150 | 580 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $61,690 | 960 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $60,960 | 630 |
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 North Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Grand Forks, ND-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Electrician | $69,710 | $33.51 |
| Carpenter | $57,440 | $27.62 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $62,940 | $30.26 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,460 | $29.55 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $52,140 | $25.07 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| Roofer | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $76,430 | $36.74 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $62,050 | $29.83 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Grand Forks, ND-MN
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 Grand Forks, ND-MN?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Grand Forks, ND-MN metro area is $61,520 a year, or $29.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Grand Forks, ND-MN?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Grand Forks, ND-MN metro area earn at least $95,570 a year. The top 25% earn $73,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Grand Forks, ND-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,000 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $58,180 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Grand Forks, ND-MN?
About 370 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Grand Forks, ND-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.