Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $55,960 a year ($26.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,390 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 8% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $52,000. There are 6.4 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $57,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,010 | $19.72 |
| 25th percentile | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| Median | $55,960 | $26.90 |
| 75th percentile | $75,430 | $36.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| Average (mean) | $57,900 | $27.84 |
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 | $4,663.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,331.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,152.31 |
| Weekly | $1,076.15 |
| Hourly | $26.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $55,960 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,660 | 6,450 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $59,790 | 310 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $56,030 | 3,820 |
| Richmond, VA | $55,280 | 2,220 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,870 | 1,140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,060 | 2,150 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $50,910 | 420 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $50,790 | 260 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $50,320 | 750 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $50,100 | 230 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $50,030 | n/a |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $49,670 | 260 |
| Roanoke, VA | $49,010 | 480 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $48,750 | 160 |
| Knoxville, TN | $48,690 | 1,210 |
| Cleveland, TN | $48,210 | 160 |
| Morristown, TN | $48,170 | 220 |
| Johnson City, TN | $47,560 | 200 |
| Jackson, TN | $47,240 | 270 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Electrician | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Carpenter | $48,340 | $23.24 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $59,360 | $28.54 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $39,750 | $19.11 |
| Pipelayer | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Roofer | $39,720 | $19.10 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $57,450 | $27.62 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $69,610 | $33.47 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $48,310 | $23.22 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $56,820 | $27.32 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $55,960 a year, or $26.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $76,390 a year. The top 25% earn $75,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,010 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $44,700 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 770 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.