Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in North Carolina
$52,310avg. a year
$25.15 an hour · 16,580 employed
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in North Carolina earn an average of $52,310 a year. That is $13,980 (21%) less than the U.S. average of $66,290. The best-paying metro area is Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $55,090.
$49,310Median pay
$25.15Average hourly
+24%Avg. pay since 2020
#45Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying North Carolina metro areas
Average pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators by metro area. Swipe to see all 16.
14,440 jobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
$55,090
$26.48 an hour
22,150 jobs
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
$55,080
$26.48 an hour
3480 jobs
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
$55,020
$26.45 an hour
43,080 jobs
Raleigh-Cary, NC
$54,460
$26.18 an hour
5440 jobs
Fayetteville, NC
$52,230
$25.11 an hour
6200 jobs
Burlington, NC
$51,740
$24.88 an hour
71,080 jobs
Greensboro-High Point, NC
$51,270
$24.65 an hour
8370 jobs
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
$51,160
$24.60 an hour
9210 jobs
Greenville, NC
$51,010
$24.52 an hour
1090 jobs
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
$50,690
$24.37 an hour
11510 jobs
Asheville, NC
$50,070
$24.07 an hour
12790 jobs
Wilmington, NC
$49,990
$24.03 an hour
13170 jobs
Rocky Mount, NC
$49,750
$23.92 an hour
14770 jobs
Winston-Salem, NC
$49,420
$23.76 an hour
15180 jobs
Jacksonville, NC
$49,070
$23.59 an hour
16220 jobs
Goldsboro, NC
$47,400
$22.79 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in North Carolina, charted
Pay over time
North Carolina, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where North Carolina operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · North Carolina highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $55k$55k–$64k$64k–$76k$76k+North Carolina
North Carolina vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| North Carolina | $52,310 | $25.15 |
| Virginia | $58,400 | $28.08 |
| Tennessee | $55,050 | $26.47 |
| South Carolina | $51,640 | $24.83 |
| Georgia | $49,660 | $23.88 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
- Construction Laborers$45,250
- Electricians$56,850
- Carpenters$50,510
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$56,720
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance$44,900
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$47,210
Average pay, North Carolina, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in North Carolina?
The average is $52,310 a year, and the median is $49,310. That is $13,980 (21%) less than the U.S. average of $66,290.
What is the hourly wage in North Carolina?
$25.15 an hour on average; the median is $23.71.
Where in North Carolina do they earn the most?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($55,090), followed by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ($55,080). The lowest average among 16 metro areas with data is Goldsboro, NC ($47,400).
How does North Carolina rank?
North Carolina ranks #45 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 47-2073. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national operating engineers and other construction equipment operators page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.