Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Iowa City, IA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn a median of $60,530 a year ($29.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,080 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is about the same as the Iowa statewide median of $60,330. There are 2.2 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $63,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Iowa City, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| 25th percentile | $56,620 | $27.22 |
| Median | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| 75th percentile | $71,010 | $34.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,080 | $38.02 |
| Average (mean) | $63,080 | $30.33 |
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 | $5,044.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,522.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,328.08 |
| Weekly | $1,164.04 |
| Hourly | $29.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,530 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $97,770 | 420 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,850 | 570 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $63,310 | 490 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $62,610 | 1,260 |
| Ames, IA | $62,400 | 190 |
| Dubuque, IA | $62,250 | 160 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $60,020 | 1,380 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $59,140 | 200 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Iowa City, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| Electrician | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| Carpenter | $49,680 | $23.89 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,350 | $29.49 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,130 | $27.95 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $78,800 | $37.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,380 | $36.24 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $78,030 | $37.51 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Iowa City, IA
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 Iowa City, IA?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Iowa City, IA metro area is $60,530 a year, or $29.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Iowa City, IA?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn at least $79,080 a year. The top 25% earn $71,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Iowa City, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,990 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $56,620 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Iowa City, IA?
About 210 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Iowa City, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.