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Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Tennessee
Is Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee is growing faster than average.
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Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Tennessee earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
What Major Will Prepare You For an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Career?
- Transportation & Materials Moving
- Ground Transportation
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
- Mobil Crane Operation/Operator
How Many Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Work in Tennessee?
In 2018, there were 5,470 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators working in the state.
There were 5,170 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 300 jobs between 2017 and 2018.
The typical state has 5,620 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators working in it, which means Tennessee has fewer Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators than average.
Job Projections for Tennessee
Jobs for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in this state are growing at a rate of 13.4% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 12.3%.
Tennessee Annual Job Openings
The BLS estimates 620 annual job openings, and a total of 5,410 jobs for Tennessee Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in 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 Tennessee?
In 2018 wages for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators ranged from $28,390 to $59,150 with $38,400 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $13.65 to $28.44. The median hourly rate was $18.46.
Workers in this field were paid a median of $18.23 an hour in 2017.
The hourly rate grew by $0.23.
The median salary in Tennessee is higher than the nationwide median salary.
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Top Tennessee 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 |
---|---|---|
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | 2,240 | $37,610 |
Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 770 | $40,250 |
Knoxville, TN | 620 | $38,350 |
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 410 | $39,320 |
Chattanooga, TN-GA | 300 | $40,620 |
Clarksville, TN-KY | 200 | $41,210 |
Jackson, TN | 140 | $39,180 |
Cleveland, TN | 120 | $43,510 |
Morristown, TN | 80 | $39,250 |
Johnson City, TN | 60 | $35,960 |
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 Tennessee
You may also be interested in the following careers:
Occupation | Tennessee Employment Total |
---|---|
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 1,700 |
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.