BLS figures put the median pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Owensboro, KY, at $49,550 a year. That is 17% under the national median of $59,660, so this market pays below the typical U.S. rate for the role. The middle 50% land between $46,650 and $61,300 — a 14,650 range that reflects differences in seniority, employer type, and specialization. The average (mean) of $55,360 comes in higher than the median, which usually means a share of high earners is pulling the average up. The catch: Owensboro is roughly in line with the national cost of living (cost index 100 against a 100 baseline), so that headline number buys less than it would elsewhere. On an hourly basis that is about $23.82, useful for comparing contract or part-time offers.

For context, the national median for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators across all U.S. metros in our data is $59,660.