U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Agriculture / Engineering Equipment Operating

Job-title file

Engineering Equipment Operating

Design, analyze, and oversee technical systems or infrastructure, ensuring they meet specifications and codes.

472 employees hold this title in Department of Agriculture. Median total compensation for the role is $66,505, below the department median of $77,955.

Employees: 472
Total payroll: $31.4M
Role median: $66,505
Agency median: $77,955
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$40,175$92,461+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 472 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Engineering Equipment Operating pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — about 478,090 people — is $59,850. Department of Agriculture pays a median base salary of $65,803 for this role, 10% above that figure — about the 59th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Agriculture sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$42,190

$48,680

$59,850

$77,170

$101,090

Department of Agriculture median · $65,803

The bar is the range of annual wages for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Agriculture’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Agriculture is $66,505, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

Engineering Equipment Operating is held in 10 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Agriculture, the median of $66,505 ranks #8 of 10.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Energy

$121,693 · 14

Presidio Trust

$111,297 · 3

Department of Transportation

$79,459 · 7

Department of Homeland Security

$78,774 · 22

Smithsonian Institution

$77,031 · 3

Department of Interior

$69,455 · 721

Department of Veterans Affairs

$66,972 · 226

Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation

$65,740 · 2

Inter Bound and Water Community U.S. Section

$65,135 · 23

Median total compensation for the Engineering Equipment Operating role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Eric Branstetter

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$79,389

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $79,389
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,389
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Mccall
Work county: Valley
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $79,389
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,389
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160990085
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Eric Branstetter is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Mccall, Idaho. 2024 total compensation came to $79,389. They are classified at grade 10.

Robert Vernetti

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$79,223

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $79,223
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,223
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Payson
Work county: Gila
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $79,223
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,223
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040365007
Length of Service (Years): 31
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Robert Vernetti is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Payson, Arizona. 2024 total compensation came to $79,223. They are classified at grade 10.

Stephen Battle

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$79,203

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $78,283
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $920
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,203
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Andalusia
Work county: Covington
Work state: Alabama

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $78,283
Basic Pay (before locality): $78,283
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 010090039
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Stephen Battle holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Andalusia, Alabama. In 2024, their total compensation was $79,203. Their pay grade is 10.

Jeffrey Tugman

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$79,181

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $79,181
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,181
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Laramie
Work county: Albany
Work state: Wyoming

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $79,181
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,181
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 560470001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

At Department of Agriculture, Jeffrey Tugman serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Laramie, Wyoming. Their 2024 pay totaled $79,181. They are classified at grade 09.

Colin Painter

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$78,826

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $78,826
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,826
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Randle
Work county: Lewis
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $78,826
Basic Pay (before locality): $78,826
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531795041
Length of Service (Years): 19
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Colin Painter holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Randle, Washington. In 2024, their total compensation was $78,826. Their pay grade is 10.

Michael Lacosse

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$78,722

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $78,722
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,722
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Rapid River
Work county: Delta
Work state: Michigan

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $78,722
Basic Pay (before locality): $78,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 264145041
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Michael Lacosse is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Rapid River, Michigan. 2024 total compensation came to $78,722. They are classified at grade 10.

Kevin Harris

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$78,388

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $78,388
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,388
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Oroville
Work county: Butte
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $78,388
Basic Pay (before locality): $78,388
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062600007
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Kevin Harris works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Oroville, California. Kevin earned $78,388 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Kevin Tanaka

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$78,388

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $78,388
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,388
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Quincy
Work county: Plumas
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $78,388
Basic Pay (before locality): $78,388
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062920063
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Kevin Tanaka works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Quincy, California. Kevin earned $78,388 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Charles White

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$78,303

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $77,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $750
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,303
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Elkins
Work county: Randolph
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $77,553
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540810083
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Charles White is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Elkins, West Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $78,303. They are classified at grade 10.

Chance Reynolds

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$78,096

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $78,096
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,096
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Butte
Work county: Silver Bow
Work state: Montana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $78,096
Basic Pay (before locality): $78,096
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 300180093
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Chance Reynolds is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Butte, Montana. 2024 total compensation came to $78,096. They are classified at grade 10.

Lee Bliss

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$77,894

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $76,322
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,572
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,894
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Sonora
Work county: Tuolumne
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $76,322
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,322
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063670109
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Lee Bliss works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Sonora, California. Lee earned $77,894 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Kari Christman

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$77,886

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $77,386
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,886
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Price
Work county: Carbon
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,386
Basic Pay (before locality): $77,386
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491540007
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Kari Christman works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Price, Utah. Kari earned $77,886 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

David Buck

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$77,553

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $77,553
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,553
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Marlinton
Work county: Pocahontas
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,553
Basic Pay (before locality): $77,553
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 541640075
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

At Department of Agriculture, David Buck serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Marlinton, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $77,553. They are classified at grade 10.

Robert Taylor

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$77,483

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $74,569
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,914
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,483
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Santa Maria
Work county: Santa Barbara
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,569
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,569
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063460083
Length of Service (Years): 20
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Robert Taylor works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Santa Maria, California. Robert earned $77,483 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Linden Dursteler

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$77,090

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $74,840
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,090
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Boise
Work county: Ada
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $74,840
Basic Pay (before locality): $74,840
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160160001
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Linden Dursteler works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Boise, Idaho. Linden earned $77,090 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Joel Carothers

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$77,031

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $77,031
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,031
Pay grade: 10
Work city: San Fernando
Work county: Los Angeles
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,031
Basic Pay (before locality): $77,031
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063280037
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Joel Carothers works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in San Fernando, California. Joel earned $77,031 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Bradley Hoffmann

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$77,031

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $77,031
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,031
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Arcadia
Work county: Los Angeles
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,031
Basic Pay (before locality): $77,031
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 060120037
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Bradley Hoffmann is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Arcadia, California. 2024 total compensation came to $77,031. They are classified at grade 10.