What are the top 10 cities with the highest pay for Operating Engineer?

We've identified 10 cities in Iowa where Operating Engineer jobs typically pay above the area average. Topping the list is Ames (26.2% above average), followed by Pella and Cedar Rapids. City Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Ames $100,803 $8,400 $1,938 $48.46 Pella $86,339 $7,194 $1,660 $41.51 Cedar Rapids $84,467 $7,038 $1,624 $40.61 Sioux City $84,075 $7,006 $1,616 $40.42 West Des Moines $83,480 $6,956 $1,605 $40.13 Iowa City $83,200 $6,933 $1,600 $40.00 Mason City $82,989 $6,915 $1,595 $39.90 Des Moines $82,981 $6,915 $1,595 $39.89 West Burlington $81,847 $6,820 $1,573 $39.35 Middletown $81,348 $6,779 $1,564 $39.11

Operating Engineer

Operating Engineer Salary in Iowa

Q: How much does an Operating Engineer make in Iowa?

The average annual pay for an operating engineer in Iowa is $79,864 a year — that works out to approximately $38.40 an hour. That is 6.1% below the national average of $85,029. The middle 80% of Operating Engineers earn between $55,886 (10th percentile) and $110,833 (90th percentile) per year, depending on experience and employer.

Q: What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Operating Engineer Jobs in Iowa?

We found several jobs related to Operating Engineer in Iowa that pay more on average. Topping the list is Heavy Equipment Operate at $13,674 (17.1%) above Operating Engineer. Job Title Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Heavy Equipment Operate $66,190 $5,515 $1,272 $31.82 Rock Quarry $62,937 $5,244 $1,210 $30.26 Professional Motor Coach Operator $45,898 $3,824 $882 $22.07 Transportation Security Screener $44,526 $3,710 $856 $21.41 Motor Grader Operator $33,376 $2,781 $641 $16.05

$33.8K

$76.5K

$126.8K

$79,864

/year

$38.40

/hour

Operating Engineer Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$85,029

Iowa

$79,864

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How much does an Operating Engineer make in Iowa?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average annual pay for an Operating Engineer in Iowa is $79,864 a year.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $38.40 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,535/week or $6,655/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $126,800 and as low as $33,814, the majority of Operating Engineer salaries currently range between $65,300 (25th percentile) to $88,300 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $110,833 annually in Iowa. The average pay range for an Operating Engineer varies greatly (by as much as 23000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

Iowa ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Operating Engineer salaries.

To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Operating Engineer jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

Find your next high paying job as an Operating Engineer on ZipRecruiter today.

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Operating Engineer Jobs in Iowa

We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an Operating Engineer job is above the average in Iowa in Iowa. Topping the list is Ames, , with Pella, and Cedar Rapids, close behind in the second and third positions. Cedar Rapids, beats the average in Iowa by $4,603 (5.8%), and Ames, furthers that trend with another $20,939 (26.2%) above the $79,864 average.

With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Iowa, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as an Operating Engineer appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

However, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies modestly at 21% between Ames, and Middletown, , suggesting it may be difficult to see much positive wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may help determine the balance between location and salary for an Operating Engineer role.

City	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Ames	$100,803	$8,400	$1,938	$48.46
Pella	$86,339	$7,194	$1,660	$41.51
Cedar Rapids	$84,467	$7,038	$1,624	$40.61
Sioux City	$84,075	$7,006	$1,616	$40.42
West Des Moines	$83,480	$6,956	$1,605	$40.13
Iowa City	$83,200	$6,933	$1,600	$40.00
Mason City	$82,989	$6,915	$1,595	$39.90
Des Moines	$82,981	$6,915	$1,595	$39.89
West Burlington	$81,847	$6,820	$1,573	$39.35
Middletown	$81,348	$6,779	$1,564	$39.11

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Operating Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Analyzing similar jobs related to the Operating Engineer job category in Iowa, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $79864 state average for Operating Engineer jobs.

Nevertheless Heavy Equipment Operate, Rock Quarry, or Professional Motor Coach Operator may still be interesting positions to explore.

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Heavy Equipment Operate	$66,190	$5,515	$1,272	$31.82
Rock Quarry	$62,937	$5,244	$1,210	$30.26
Professional Motor Coach Operator	$45,898	$3,824	$882	$22.07
Transportation Security Screener	$44,526	$3,710	$856	$21.41
Motor Grader Operator	$33,376	$2,781	$641	$16.05

About Our Data

ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

Infographic detailing Operating Engineer salary in Iowa as of July 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $65,300 to $110,833 annually, with the Iowa average at $79,864 per year or $38.40 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in Iowa for Operating Engineer jobs, with Ames leading at $100,803 annually.

All Salaries Operating Engineer Salary Operating Engineer Salary in Iowa