Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,370 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Boulder earn between $61,380 and $79,820.
- $50K10th
- $61K25th
- $71KMedian
- $80K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,760 | $5,897 | $34.02 |
| Median | $71,060 | $5,922 | $34.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,380 | $5,115 | $29.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,820 | $6,652 | $38.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Boulder vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Boulder earn 10% more than the Colorado average ($64,550) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($66,290). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $59,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $70,760 | $71,060 | $50,440 | $93,370 | 190 |
| Colorado | $64,550 | $62,620 | $49,480 | $78,870 | 11,700 |
| United States | $66,290 | $59,850 | $42,190 | $101,090 | 478,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Boulder
On the average salary of $70,760, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $56,205 a year, or $4,684 a month and $2,162 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $70,760 buys what about $67,261 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boulder$70,760
- Denver$67,120
- Fort Collins$65,940
- Colorado Springs$62,850
- Pueblo$62,310
- Greeley$60,600
- Grand Junction$57,320
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in Colorado
Highest-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($111,400).
- San Jose, CA$111,400
- San Francisco, CA$110,300
- Kahului, HI$106,970
- Honolulu, HI$104,010
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,710
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by city
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Boulder: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Boulder?
$34.02 an hour on average, and $34.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Boulder?
About $56,205 a year ($4,684 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,760. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2073; area Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.32, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.32).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.