Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Michigan
Thinking about a career as an Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Michigan? Here’s what the data says. Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties. Excludes “Extraction Workers” (47-5000) and “Crane and Tower Operators” (53-7021).
What do Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Make in Michigan?
For a operating engineers and other construction equipment operators working in Michigan, wages run about $62,550 per year (or about $30.07/hour).Pay can range from $47,100 at the 10th percentile to $89,500 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| 25th percentile | $52,830 | $25.40 |
| Median (50th) | $62,550 | $30.07 |
| 75th percentile | $79,090 | $38.02 |
| 90th percentile | $89,500 | $43.03 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Michigan compared to the national average — is 0.70, indicating fewer operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn a median of $54,087 per year ($26.00/hour), above the Michigan median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 554,723 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the U.S.. In Michigan alone, around 9,420 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 6,690 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators.
Top Michigan Metros for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
The metro areas below employ the most operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Michigan.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,760 | $65,210 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 1,090 | $62,300 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 470 | $61,630 |
| Traverse City, MI | 300 | $59,670 |
| Flint, MI | 270 | $62,610 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 190 | $61,140 |
| Jackson, MI | 180 | $58,310 |
| Monroe, MI | 180 | $66,460 |
| Saginaw, MI | 180 | $62,170 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 170 | $65,300 |
| Bay City, MI | 130 | $61,640 |
| Midland, MI | 130 | $67,780 |
| Niles, MI | 130 | $64,130 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 100 | $58,220 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 70 | $61,450 |
Top States for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Employment
These states have the highest employment of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 55,290 |
| California | 36,040 |
| Florida | 29,420 |
| Pennsylvania | 20,680 |
| Ohio | 16,510 |
| North Carolina | 15,890 |
| Georgia | 15,720 |
| New York | 14,700 |
| Arizona | 13,520 |
| Colorado | 12,050 |
| Illinois | 11,690 |
| Virginia | 11,280 |
| Indiana | 11,230 |
| Massachusetts | 10,360 |
| Tennessee | 10,190 |
| Alabama | 9,640 |
| Michigan | 9,420 |
| Washington | 9,070 |
| Missouri | 8,750 |
| South Carolina | 8,430 |
Highest-Paying States for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
These states pay the most for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $105,440 |
| Illinois | $96,980 |
| California | $89,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,170 |
| New York | $80,260 |
| Washington | $79,190 |
| Minnesota | $78,580 |
| Connecticut | $76,690 |
| Rhode Island | $76,030 |
| Alaska | $75,000 |
Skills
Key operating engineers and other construction equipment operators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators typically:
- Learn and follow safety regulations.
- Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
- Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
- Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
- Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.
- Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain.
- Operate tractors or bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, or building roadways or parking lots.
- Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Ground Transportation
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Related Careers
Careers similar to operating engineers and other construction equipment operators include:
- Construction Laborers
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Pile Driver Operators
- Highway Maintenance Workers
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Also Known As
Angle Dozer Operator, Asphalt Roller Operator, Back Hoe Operator, Backhoe Operator, Blade Grader Operator, Blade Operator, Bulldozer Engineer, Bulldozer Operator, Bush Hog Operator, Cable Engineer, Car Runner, Catshovel Driver, Clamshell Engineer, Construction Backhoe Operator, Construction Bulldozer Operator.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-2073.00
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