The median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $63,560 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $66,850.
Pay spans roughly $50,180 at the 10th percentile to $82,980 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $30.56 per hour. An estimated 1,250 people work as operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
| Median (annual) | $63,560 |
| Mean (annual) | $66,850 |
| Median (hourly) | $30.56 |
| 10th percentile | $50,180 |
| 90th percentile | $82,980 |
| Employment | 1,250 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.