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Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Tennessee

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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?

13.4% Jobs Projection
$38,400 Median Salary
620 Job Openings

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.

  • Projected employment for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Tennessee is growing faster than average.

  • Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Tennessee earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

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.

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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.

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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%.

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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

You may also be interested in the following careers:

Occupation TN Employment Total

What Major Will Prepare You For an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Career?

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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