Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $51,040 a year ($24.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,960 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 1% higher than the Texas statewide median of $50,460. There are 4.3 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $55,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| 25th percentile | $46,810 | $22.50 |
| Median | $51,040 | $24.54 |
| 75th percentile | $61,900 | $29.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,960 | $34.60 |
| Average (mean) | $55,410 | $26.64 |
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 | $4,253.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,126.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,963.08 |
| Weekly | $981.54 |
| Hourly | $24.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,040 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $57,900 | 1,150 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $56,850 | 1,120 |
| Odessa, TX | $55,430 | 670 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $53,380 | 180 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,370 | 11,510 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $50,960 | 5,010 |
| Abilene, TX | $49,500 | 230 |
| Amarillo, TX | $48,850 | 490 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,750 | 3,980 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $48,320 | 1,160 |
| San Angelo, TX | $48,120 | 210 |
| Longview, TX | $48,030 | 750 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $47,980 | 590 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $47,860 | 180 |
| Waco, TX | $47,730 | 470 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $47,590 | 570 |
| Victoria, TX | $47,520 | 180 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $46,920 | 50 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $46,800 | 280 |
| Tyler, TX | $46,670 | 290 |
| Lubbock, TX | $46,490 | 550 |
| Laredo, TX | $46,100 | 280 |
| El Paso, TX | $45,630 | 980 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $40,190 | 330 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $39,200 | 1,010 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $41,350 | $19.88 |
| Electrician | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,300 | $29.47 |
| Carpenter | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $58,030 | $27.90 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $51,870 | $24.94 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $47,610 | $22.89 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $47,060 | $22.63 |
| Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers | $51,860 | $24.93 |
| Glazier | $48,340 | $23.24 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $50,050 | $24.06 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $51,040 a year, or $24.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $71,960 a year. The top 25% earn $61,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,170 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $46,810 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 14,000 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.