Salary comparison
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: Olympia vs Rockford
Olympia, WA pays about 6.0% more for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators on paper — $103,060 vs $97,250. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Olympia comes out ahead by $5,810 a year in real buying power.
Olympia, WA
$103,060
$69,620
$113,800
$49.55
100
$103,060/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Rockford, IL
$97,250
$69,720
$101,850
$46.75
100
$97,250/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $5,810 a year (6.0%) in favor of Olympia. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Olympia runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Rockford sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Olympia is the better deal by $5,810 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Rockford to Olympia for this role, the raise needs to beat 6.0% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more, Olympia or Rockford?
Olympia pays $103,060 on median — about 6.0% more than Rockford ($97,250). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Olympia. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Olympia gives you roughly$103,060 of real buying power versus $97,250 in the other city.