Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,760 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Lexington earn between $49,380 and $66,000.
- $44K10th
- $49K25th
- $59KMedian
- $66K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,260 | $4,938 | $28.49 |
| Median | $58,560 | $4,880 | $28.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,380 | $4,115 | $23.74 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,000 | $5,500 | $31.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($59,320) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($66,290). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $59,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $59,260 | $58,560 | $44,320 | $77,760 | 760 |
| Kentucky | $59,320 | $57,780 | $44,620 | $80,890 | 7,050 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $59,260, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $46,209 a year, or $3,851 a month and $1,777 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $59,260 buys what about $63,797 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 4th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($65,240).
- Louisville$65,240
- Bowling Green$61,110
- Paducah$60,380
- Lexington$59,260
- Elizabethtown$55,500
- Owensboro$55,360
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in Kentucky
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
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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Lexington: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Lexington?
$28.49 an hour on average, and $28.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Lexington?
About $46,209 a year ($3,851 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,260. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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