What are the main factors that influence an Operator Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Operator Engineer's salary?

An Operator Engineer's salary grows with experience: an Industrial Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $77,373, an Industrial Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $95,389, an Operator Engineer (4-7 years)earns $111,725, an Industrial Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $124,903, an Industrial Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $147,140,

What are the highest paying states for an Operator Engineer?

Operator Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Operator Engineer roles are District of Columbia $119,747, California $119,293, Massachusetts $117,703. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Operator Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Operator Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Stationary Engineer IV: $84,802; Stationary Engineer Supervisor: $82,429; Stationary Engineer III: $68,057; Stationary Engineer II: $60,171; Operator, Assembly Operator: $55,840.

Operator Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does an Operator Engineer make in Delaware?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operator Engineer in Delaware is $109,527 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

However, an Operator Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,812
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $98,972 to $119,621
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,362

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Operator Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$119,621	$9,968	$2,300	$58
Average	$109,527	$9,127	$2,106	$53
25th Percentile	$98,972	$8,248	$1,903	$48

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Operator Engineer Salaries

An Operator Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Operator Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Operator Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $77,373
Early Career (1-2 years): $95,389
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $111,725
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $124,903
Expert (over 8 years): $147,140

Levels	Salary
Industria... Level Operator Engineer	$77,373
Industria... Level Operator Engineer	$95,389
Operator ... Level Operator Engineer	$111,725
Industria... Level Operator Engineer	$124,903
Industria... Level Operator Engineer	$147,140

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Operator Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Operator Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $119,747.
California: $119,293.
Massachusetts: $117,703.

District of Columbia $119,747 California $119,293 Massachusetts $117,703 Washington $117,270 New Jersey $117,227 Alaska $117,076 Connecticut $115,583 New York $114,977

Hawaii $113,042 Rhode Island $112,133 Maryland $111,517 Minnesota $110,673 Colorado $110,349 Illinois $110,240 Oregon $109,829 Delaware $109,527

New Hampshire $109,336 Virginia $108,910 Pennsylvania $107,666 Nevada $107,039 North Dakota $106,834 Michigan $106,509 Wisconsin $106,390 Vermont $106,152

Texas $105,492 Maine $105,449 Arizona $105,384 Ohio $105,309 Georgia $104,314 Indiana $103,816 Wyoming $103,719 Utah $103,567

Iowa $103,502 Kansas $102,983 Louisiana $102,832 North Carolina $102,778 Missouri $102,756 Florida $102,334 Montana $102,107 Nebraska $101,891

Kentucky $101,772 South Carolina $101,339 Tennessee $101,069 Idaho $100,961 New Mexico $100,171 Oklahoma $99,998 Alabama $99,360 South Dakota $98,289

Arkansas $97,705 West Virginia $97,392 Mississippi $96,451

Top Paying Cities for Operator Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $113,355
Little Creek: $112,306
Magnolia: $112,771

Lincoln, DE $113,355 Little Creek, DE $112,306 Magnolia, DE $112,771 Milford, DE $113,355 Marydel, DE $111,884 Millsboro, DE $113,355 Millville, DE $114,112 Milton, DE $113,355

Nassau, DE $113,355 Ocean View, DE $114,112 Rehoboth Beach, DE $114,112 Seaford, DE $112,165 Selbyville, DE $114,112 Smyrna, DE $111,754 Viola, DE $112,771 Woodside, DE $112,447

Bear, DE $110,933 Newark, DE $110,976 Claymont, DE $111,062 Delaware City, DE $110,976 Hockessin, DE $111,062 Kirkwood, DE $110,976 Middletown, DE $111,527 Montchanin, DE $111,062

New Castle, DE $111,062 Odessa, DE $111,679 Port Penn, DE $110,673 Rockland, DE $111,062 Saint Georges, DE $110,976 Townsend, DE $111,517 Winterthur, DE $111,062 Lewes, DE $113,355

Wilmington, DE $111,062 Dover, DE $112,252 Dover Afb, DE $112,512 Bethany Beach, DE $114,112 Bethel, DE $112,165 Bridgeville, DE $113,355 Camden Wyoming, DE $112,371 Cheswold, DE $111,992

Clayton, DE $111,711 Dagsboro, DE $114,112 Delmar, DE $112,165 Ellendale, DE $113,355 Felton, DE $113,355 Fenwick Island, DE $114,112 Frankford, DE $114,112 Frederica, DE $113,355

Georgetown, DE $113,355 Greenwood, DE $113,355 Harbeson, DE $113,355 Harrington, DE $113,355 Hartly, DE $111,657 Houston, DE $113,355 Kenton, DE $111,711 Laurel, DE $112,165

Yorklyn, DE $111,062

Operator Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Operator Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on February 01, 2026

$98,972

Average $109,527/year

$119,621

$8,248

Average $9,127/month

$9,968

$1,903

Average $2,106/week

$2,300

$48

Average $53/hour

$58

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$119,621	$9,968	$2,300	$58
Average	$109,527	$9,127	$2,106	$53
25th Percentile	$98,972	$8,248	$1,903	$48

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