Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in South Dakota
Is South Dakota a good place for you to work as an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator?
You’re in luck! Jobs for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in South Dakota are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.
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Projected employment for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in South Dakota is growing faster than average.
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Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in South Dakota earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
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How Many Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Work in South Dakota?
There were approximately 1,710 workers employed as Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in this state in 2018.
There were 1,600 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 110 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 5,620 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators working in it, which means South Dakota has fewer Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators than average.

Job Projections for South Dakota
Jobs for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in this state are growing at a rate of 5.1% which is slower than the nationwide estimated projection of 12.3%.

South Dakota Annual Job Openings
The BLS is projecting 230 annual Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators job openings in South Dakota, and 2,080 total jobs in the year 2026.
Nationwide, the prediction is 47,300 annual jobs and 416,900 total jobs in 2026.
What do Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Make in South Dakota?
In 2018 wages for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators ranged from $33,320 to $57,960 with $43,730 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $16.02 to $27.87. The median hourly rate was $21.02.
Workers in this field were paid a median of $20.53 an hour in 2017.
The hourly rate grew by $0.49.
The median salary in South Dakota is higher than the nationwide median salary.

Top South Dakota Metros for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators
The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators.
Metro | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Sioux Falls, SD | 410 | $43,810 |
Rapid City, SD | 380 | $42,480 |
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 310 | $44,010 |
Top States for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Employment
View the list below to see where most Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators work.
State | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Texas | 42,880 | $39,400 |
California | 28,110 | $71,120 |
Pennsylvania | 21,110 | $48,700 |
Florida | 18,720 | $37,580 |
Ohio | 15,500 | $53,060 |
New York | 13,160 | $69,590 |
North Carolina | 12,720 | $37,930 |
Georgia | 11,360 | $36,100 |
Colorado | 11,290 | $49,460 |
Illinois | 11,150 | $83,860 |
Virginia | 10,450 | $40,220 |
Minnesota | 10,010 | $64,750 |
Indiana | 9,160 | $53,790 |
Louisiana | 8,820 | $43,600 |
Washington | 8,750 | $64,880 |
Wisconsin | 7,970 | $63,320 |
Michigan | 7,870 | $52,240 |
Arizona | 7,400 | $45,930 |
Missouri | 7,290 | $51,570 |
Massachusetts | 7,010 | $60,840 |
Below are the states where Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators get paid the most:
State | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|
Illinois | $83,860 |
Hawaii | $82,000 |
New Jersey | $71,650 |
California | $71,120 |
Alaska | $70,210 |
New York | $69,590 |
Connecticut | $67,880 |
Washington | $64,880 |
Minnesota | $64,750 |
Wisconsin | $63,320 |
Related Careers in SD
You may also be interested in the following careers:
Occupation | SD Employment Total |
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References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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