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

An Operating Engineer's salary grows with experience: an Industrial Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $78,521, an Industrial Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $96,821, an Operating Engineer (4-7 years)earns $113,406, an Industrial Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $126,772, an Industrial Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $149,327,

What are the highest paying states for an Operating Engineer?

Operating Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Operating Engineer roles are District of Columbia $123,174, California $122,707, Massachusetts $121,071. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Operating Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Operating Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Operating Partner: $128,175; Operating Advisor: $102,826; Assistant Operating Engineer: $95,080; Operating Engineer Apprentice: $93,786; Stationary Operating Engineer IV: $84,840.

Operating Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does an Operating Engineer make in Delaware?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operating Engineer in Delaware is $112,661 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $132,201
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,938 to $122,889
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $92,176

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Operating Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$122,889	$10,241	$2,363	$59
Average	$112,661	$9,388	$2,167	$54
25th Percentile	$101,938	$8,495	$1,960	$49

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Operating Engineer Salaries

An Operating 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 Operating Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Operating 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): $78,521
Early Career (1-2 years): $96,821
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,406
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,772
Expert (over 8 years): $149,327

Levels	Salary
Industria... Level Operating Engineer	$78,521
Industria... Level Operating Engineer	$96,821
Operating... Level Operating Engineer	$113,406
Industria... Level Operating Engineer	$126,772
Industria... Level Operating Engineer	$149,327

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Operating 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 Operating Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $123,174.
California: $122,707.
Massachusetts: $121,071.

District of Columbia $123,174 California $122,707 Massachusetts $121,071 Washington $120,626 New Jersey $120,582 Alaska $120,426 Connecticut $118,891 New York $118,268

Hawaii $116,276 Rhode Island $115,342 Maryland $114,708 Minnesota $113,840 Colorado $113,506 Illinois $113,395 Oregon $112,972 Delaware $112,661

New Hampshire $112,465 Virginia $112,027 Pennsylvania $110,747 Nevada $110,102 North Dakota $109,891 Michigan $109,557 Wisconsin $109,435 Vermont $109,190

Texas $108,511 Maine $108,467 Arizona $108,400 Ohio $108,322 Georgia $107,299 Indiana $106,787 Wyoming $106,687 Utah $106,531

Iowa $106,464 Kansas $105,930 Louisiana $105,775 North Carolina $105,719 Missouri $105,697 Florida $105,263 Montana $105,029 Nebraska $104,807

Kentucky $104,684 South Carolina $104,239 Tennessee $103,961 Idaho $103,850 New Mexico $103,038 Oklahoma $102,860 Alabama $102,204 South Dakota $101,102

Arkansas $100,501 West Virginia $100,179 Mississippi $99,211

Top Paying Cities for Operating 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: $116,599
Little Creek: $115,520
Magnolia: $115,998

Lincoln, DE $116,599 Little Creek, DE $115,520 Magnolia, DE $115,998 Milford, DE $116,599 Marydel, DE $115,086 Millsboro, DE $116,599 Millville, DE $117,378 Milton, DE $116,599

Nassau, DE $116,599 Ocean View, DE $117,378 Rehoboth Beach, DE $117,378 Seaford, DE $115,375 Selbyville, DE $117,378 Smyrna, DE $114,953 Viola, DE $115,998 Woodside, DE $115,665

Bear, DE $114,107 Newark, DE $114,152 Claymont, DE $114,241 Delaware City, DE $114,152 Hockessin, DE $114,241 Kirkwood, DE $114,152 Middletown, DE $114,719 Montchanin, DE $114,241

New Castle, DE $114,241 Odessa, DE $114,875 Port Penn, DE $113,840 Rockland, DE $114,241 Saint Georges, DE $114,152 Townsend, DE $114,708 Winterthur, DE $114,241 Lewes, DE $116,599

Wilmington, DE $114,241 Dover, DE $115,464 Dover Afb, DE $115,731 Bethany Beach, DE $117,378 Bethel, DE $115,375 Bridgeville, DE $116,599 Camden Wyoming, DE $115,587 Cheswold, DE $115,197

Clayton, DE $114,908 Dagsboro, DE $117,378 Delmar, DE $115,375 Ellendale, DE $116,599 Felton, DE $116,599 Fenwick Island, DE $117,378 Frankford, DE $117,378 Frederica, DE $116,599

Georgetown, DE $116,599 Greenwood, DE $116,599 Harbeson, DE $116,599 Harrington, DE $116,599 Hartly, DE $114,852 Houston, DE $116,599 Kenton, DE $114,908 Laurel, DE $115,375

Yorklyn, DE $114,241

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

Understanding how an Operating 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 April 01, 2026

$101,938

Average $112,661/year

$122,889

$8,495

Average $9,388/month

$10,241

$1,960

Average $2,167/week

$2,363

$49

Average $54/hour

$59

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$122,889	$10,241	$2,363	$59
Average	$112,661	$9,388	$2,167	$54
25th Percentile	$101,938	$8,495	$1,960	$49

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