Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Traverse City, MI
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn a median of $61,200 a year ($29.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,550 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 2% lower than the Michigan statewide median of $62,690. There are 4.2 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 $64,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Traverse City, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| 25th percentile | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Median | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| 75th percentile | $73,810 | $35.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,550 | $37.76 |
| Average (mean) | $64,420 | $30.97 |
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 | $5,100 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,550 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,353.85 |
| Weekly | $1,176.92 |
| Hourly | $29.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,200 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 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $61,730 | 190 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $61,390 | 480 |
| 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 Traverse City, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Carpenter | $59,230 | $28.47 |
| Electrician | $61,650 | $29.64 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,100 | $30.34 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $65,940 | $31.70 |
| Roofer | $50,720 | $24.38 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $55,750 | $26.80 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $80,390 | $38.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,960 | $36.52 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $52,620 | $25.30 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Traverse City, 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 Traverse City, MI?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $61,200 a year, or $29.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Traverse City, MI?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn at least $78,550 a year. The top 25% earn $73,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Traverse City, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,130 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $59,780 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Traverse City, MI?
About 280 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Traverse City, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.