Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn a median of $83,460 a year ($40.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,360 for the top 10%. That is 39% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 5% higher than the Indiana statewide median of $79,580. There are 3.4 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $76,820, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,350 | $22.77 |
| 25th percentile | $60,570 | $29.12 |
| Median | $83,460 | $40.12 |
| 75th percentile | $92,770 | $44.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,360 | $45.85 |
| Average (mean) | $76,820 | $36.93 |
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 | $6,955 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,477.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,210 |
| Weekly | $1,605 |
| Hourly | $40.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $83,460 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,100 | 7,930 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $98,120 | 170 |
| Evansville, IN | $84,500 | 510 |
| Kokomo, IN | $82,270 | 100 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $82,190 | 3,700 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $80,460 | 360 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $77,450 | 650 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $66,950 | 3,120 |
| Columbus, IN | $64,970 | 110 |
| Bloomington, IN | $62,120 | 230 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,890 | 1,920 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $61,710 | 290 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $61,630 | 230 |
| Muncie, IN | $59,910 | 80 |
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 Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Electrician | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $62,780 | $30.19 |
| Carpenter | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,540 | $27.66 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,000 | $22.11 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Roofer | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,520 | $40.15 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $68,090 | $32.73 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $65,290 | $31.39 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $83,460 a year, or $40.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn at least $95,360 a year. The top 25% earn $92,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,350 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $60,570 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
About 340 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.