The median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Ames, IA is $61,540 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $62,250.
Pay spans roughly $49,990 at the 10th percentile to $78,560 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $29.59 per hour. An estimated 220 people work as operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Ames, IA.
| Median (annual) | $61,540 |
| Mean (annual) | $62,250 |
| Median (hourly) | $29.59 |
| 10th percentile | $49,990 |
| 90th percentile | $78,560 |
| Employment | 220 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.