What does a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary really buy you in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators earning $72,650 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $78,710 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $49,330 | $53,445 | +$4,115 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $60,310 | $65,341 | +$5,031 |
| Median (P50) | $72,650 | $78,710 | +$6,060 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $92,060 | $99,739 | +$7,679 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $96,160 | $104,182 | +$8,022 |
A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Wisconsin earns $72,650 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $78,710 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Wisconsin ranks #6 out of 50 states for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $72,650 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $78,710 — a +8.3% difference.
Wisconsin's cost of living is 7.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wisconsin is 92.3 (US average = 100).
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.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Wisconsin: $72,650 x (100 / 92.3) = $78,710. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Wisconsin enjoys 8.3% 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.