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

Craig Martin

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$84,168

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $76,322
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $7,846
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,168
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): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

At Department of Agriculture, Craig Martin serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Sonora, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $84,168. They are classified at grade 10.

Matthew Cox

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$84,148

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $84,148
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,148
Pay grade: 10
Work city: South Lake Tahoe
Work county: El Dorado
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $84,148
Basic Pay (before locality): $84,148
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063697017
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

At Department of Agriculture, Matthew Cox serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in South Lake Tahoe, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $84,148. They are classified at grade 10.

Sean Kenney

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$84,035

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $82,207
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,828
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,035
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Santa Maria
Work county: Santa Barbara
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,207
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,207
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063460083
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Sean Kenney works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Santa Maria, California. Sean earned $84,035 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Calvin Curtis

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$83,918

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $83,918
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,918
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Safford
Work county: Graham
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $83,918
Basic Pay (before locality): $83,918
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040410009
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Calvin Curtis works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Safford, Arizona. Calvin earned $83,918 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Robert Jensen

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$83,897

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $83,897
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,897
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Salt Lake City
Work county: Salt Lake
Work state: Utah

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $83,897
Basic Pay (before locality): $83,897
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 491700035
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Robert Jensen works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Robert earned $83,897 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Scott Quint

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$83,897

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $83,897
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,897
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Bartlett
Work county: Carroll
Work state: New Hampshire

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $83,897
Basic Pay (before locality): $83,897
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 330015003
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Scott Quint holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Bartlett, New Hampshire. In 2024, their total compensation was $83,897. Their pay grade is 10.

Thomas Graham

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$83,694

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $81,330
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,364
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,694
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Mccloud
Work county: Siskiyou
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $81,330
Basic Pay (before locality): $81,330
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062030093
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Thomas Graham works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Mccloud, California. Thomas earned $83,694 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Cary Henning

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,895

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $82,395
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,895
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Naches
Work county: Yakima
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,395
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,395
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531440077
Length of Service (Years): 20
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Cary Henning works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Agriculture based in Naches, Washington. Cary earned $82,895 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Jeffrey Brewer

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,833

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $82,833
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,833
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Darby
Work county: Ravalli
Work state: Montana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,833
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,833
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 300310081
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Jeffrey Brewer is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Darby, Montana. 2024 total compensation came to $82,833. They are classified at grade 10.

Jon Wilson

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,708

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $82,708
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,708
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Flagstaff
Work county: Coconino
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,708
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,708
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040170005
Length of Service (Years): 29
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Jon Wilson is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Flagstaff, Arizona. 2024 total compensation came to $82,708. They are classified at grade 10.

Trevor Zediker

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,395

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $82,395
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,395
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Yreka
Work county: Siskiyou
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,395
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,395
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 064266093
Length of Service (Years): 29
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Trevor Zediker holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Yreka, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,395. Their pay grade is 10.

Rudy Moore

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,332

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $82,332
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,332
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Idaho Falls
Work county: Bonneville
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,332
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,332
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160790019
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Rudy Moore holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,332. Their pay grade is 10.

Andrew Shepherd

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,328

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $81,330
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $998
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,328
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Oroville
Work county: Butte
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $81,330
Basic Pay (before locality): $81,330
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062600007
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Andrew Shepherd holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Oroville, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,328. Their pay grade is 10.

Steven Kramschuster

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,311

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $82,311
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,311
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Laramie
Work county: Albany
Work state: Wyoming

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,311
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,311
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 560470001
Length of Service (Years): 26
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Steven Kramschuster holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Laramie, Wyoming. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,311. Their pay grade is 10.

Casey Rustenhoven

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,257

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $81,330
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $927
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,257
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Paskenta
Work county: Tehama
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $81,330
Basic Pay (before locality): $81,330
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062702103
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Casey Rustenhoven holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Paskenta, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,257. Their pay grade is 10.

Jason Murieen

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Agriculture

2024 total comp

$82,105

Sub-department: Forest Service
Base pay: $81,330
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $775
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,105
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Yreka
Work county: Siskiyou
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $81,330
Basic Pay (before locality): $81,330
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 064266093
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

Jason Murieen holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Agriculture based in Yreka, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,105. Their pay grade is 10.