Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, Charleston

$50,640

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Charleston-North Charleston, SC. Middle half of wages roughly $48,660 to $61,750.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median
−15.4%
US median
$59,850
Metro RPP
101
Middle half
$48,660 to $61,750
OEWS employment
1,470
SOC
47-2073

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Charleston pay a median $50,640 (May 2025), 15.4% below the US median of $59,850. At local prices (RPP 101), that median buys about what $50,139 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$50,640 in Charleston buys about what $50,139 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 101, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 119.8 vs all-items 101 (US = 100, 2024).

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in nearby metros

Metro Median Middle half RPP
Charleston $50,640 $48,660 to $61,750 101
Tampa $50,300 $47,200 to $58,810 100.9
San Francisco $124,750 $79,200 to $133,820 115.6
Tulsa $48,420 $45,410 to $56,760 89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Charleston?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $50,640.
How does Charleston pay compare to the US median for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators?
Local median pay is 15.4% below the national OEWS median of $59,850.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
BEA RPP for Charleston is 101 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $50,640 has about the same purchasing power as $50,139 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?
Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

  • BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
  • BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
  • Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

  • Federal, state, or local income taxes
  • Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
  • Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.