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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Ohio: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary really buy you in Ohio?

Ohio is 8.5% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$64,940
Median annual (2025)
+9.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$70,972
COL-adjusted (RPP=91.5)

Ohio Cost of Living Index

Ohio's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.5, meaning prices are 8.5% lower the national average. A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators earning $64,940 in Ohio has the equivalent purchasing power of $70,972 in an average-cost US state.

OH: 91.5
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $46,850 $51,202 +$4,352
25th Percentile (P25) $54,430 $59,486 +$5,056
Median (P50) $64,940 $70,972 +$6,032
75th Percentile (P75) $92,930 $101,562 +$8,632
90th Percentile (P90) $98,100 $107,213 +$9,113
Key Insight

A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Ohio earns $64,940 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $70,972 in an average-cost state. This makes Ohio one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Ohio Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 91.5

Ohio's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.5 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.5% less than the national average. For a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+9.3%

After applying Ohio's RPP, the $64,940 median salary translates to $70,973 in real terms — a 9.3% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#13 / 51

Ohio sits at #13 of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (After Cost of Living)

Where does Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Hawaii
$104,566
RPP 110.8
$96,485
RPP 101.3
3. Indiana
$86,688
RPP 91.8
$82,408
RPP 108.8
$81,560
RPP 92.3
$80,992
RPP 97.7
$77,475
RPP 112.5
8. Alaska
$76,284
RPP 102.0
$75,260
RPP 107.6
$74,408
RPP 109.8

Ohio ranks #13 out of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators take-home pay in Ohio after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Ohio after cost of living?

A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Ohio earns a median salary of $64,940 per year. After adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (RPP=91.5), the real purchasing power is $70,972 — a +9.3% difference.

Is Ohio expensive to live in?

Ohio's cost of living is 8.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Ohio is 91.5 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Ohio: $64,940 x (100 / 91.5) = $70,972. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Ohio financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Ohio enjoys 9.3% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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