Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area earn a median of $61,730 a year ($29.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,990 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 2% lower than the Michigan statewide median of $62,690. There are 1.5 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $67,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,980 | $21.14 |
| 25th percentile | $52,720 | $25.35 |
| Median | $61,730 | $29.68 |
| 75th percentile | $79,380 | $38.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,990 | $43.75 |
| Average (mean) | $67,130 | $32.27 |
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 | $5,144.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,572.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,374.23 |
| Weekly | $1,187.12 |
| Hourly | $29.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,730 salary, see how much house you can afford in Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $80,460 | 360 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $78,020 | 150 |
| Bay City, MI | $75,310 | 140 |
| Flint, MI | $75,140 | 240 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $68,130 | 3,790 |
| Midland, MI | $65,710 | 120 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $63,850 | 900 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $62,490 | 170 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $61,390 | 480 |
| Traverse City, MI | $61,200 | 280 |
| Monroe, MI | $60,910 | 140 |
| Jackson, MI | $59,860 | 160 |
| Saginaw, MI | $59,830 | 170 |
| Niles, MI | $59,670 | 130 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $59,660 | 100 |
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 Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $90,730 | $43.62 |
| Electrician | $65,690 | $31.58 |
| Construction Laborer | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| Carpenter | $61,060 | $29.36 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $80,870 | $38.88 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $52,600 | $25.29 |
| Roofer | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Glazier | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $59,910 | $28.80 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $60,010 | $28.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $76,040 | $36.56 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $46,480 | $22.35 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $71,040 | $34.15 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
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 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area is $61,730 a year, or $29.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area earn at least $90,990 a year. The top 25% earn $79,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,980 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $52,720 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?
About 190 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.