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

Job-title file

Engineering Equipment Operating

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

721 employees hold this title in Department of Interior. Median total compensation for the role is $69,455, below the department median of $87,331.

Employees: 721
Total payroll: $51.5M
Role median: $69,455
Agency median: $87,331
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$50,213$102,217+

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

How total compensation varies among the 721 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 Interior pays a median base salary of $69,309 for this role, 16% above that figure — about the 64th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Interior sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$42,190

$48,680

$59,850

$77,170

$101,090

Department of Interior median · $69,309

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 Interior’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 718 of 721 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Interior is $69,455, 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 Interior, the median of $69,455 ranks #6 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 Veterans Affairs

$66,972 · 226

Department of Agriculture

$66,505 · 472

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

David Kuehl

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$94,395

Sub-department: Bureau of Reclamation
Base pay: $94,395
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,395
Pay grade: 00
Work city: Mills
Work county: Natrona
Work state: Wyoming

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $94,395
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,395
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 560590025
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): BB

David Kuehl holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Interior based in Mills, Wyoming. In 2024, their total compensation was $94,395. Their pay grade is 00.

Wesley Harrison

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$94,395

Sub-department: Bureau of Reclamation
Base pay: $94,395
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,395
Pay grade: 00
Work city: Seminoe Dam
Work county: Carbon
Work state: Wyoming

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $94,395
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,395
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 560745007
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): BB

Wesley Harrison works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Interior based in Seminoe Dam, Wyoming. Wesley earned $94,395 in 2024. Their pay grade is 00.

Joseph Fox

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$94,374

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $94,374
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,374
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Gunnison
Work county: Gunnison
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $94,374
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,374
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 081100051
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

At Department of Interior, Joseph Fox serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Gunnison, Colorado. Their 2024 pay totaled $94,374. They are classified at grade 10.

Brian Mautz

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$94,249

Sub-department: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Base pay: $94,249
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,249
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Coleharbor
Work county: Mclean
Work state: North Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $94,249
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,249
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 380650055
Length of Service (Years): 32
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Brian Mautz works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Interior based in Coleharbor, North Dakota. Brian earned $94,249 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Russell Kish

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$94,039

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $93,539
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $94,039
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Yosemite National Park
Work county: Mariposa
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,539
Basic Pay (before locality): $93,539
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 064265043
Length of Service (Years): 27
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Russell Kish holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Interior based in Yosemite National Park, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $94,039. Their pay grade is 10.

John Fehrs

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$93,560

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $93,560
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,560
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Denali Park
Work county: Denali
Work state: Alaska

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,560
Basic Pay (before locality): $93,560
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 021546068
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

At Department of Interior, John Fehrs serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Denali Park, Alaska. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,560. They are classified at grade 10.

Frank Licata

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$93,560

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $93,560
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,560
Pay grade: 10
Work city: New York - Queens
Work county: Queens
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,560
Basic Pay (before locality): $93,560
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 364170081
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Frank Licata works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Interior based in New York - Queens, New York. Frank earned $93,560 in 2024. Their pay grade is 10.

Robert Brantley

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$93,539

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $93,539
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,539
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Yosemite National Park
Work county: Mariposa
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,539
Basic Pay (before locality): $93,539
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 064265043
Length of Service (Years): 44
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

At Department of Interior, Robert Brantley serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Yosemite National Park, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,539. They are classified at grade 10.

Shane Fairbanks

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$93,539

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $93,539
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,539
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Yosemite National Park
Work county: Mariposa
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,539
Basic Pay (before locality): $93,539
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 064265043
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Shane Fairbanks holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Interior based in Yosemite National Park, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $93,539. Their pay grade is 10.

Neil Mansfield

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$93,368

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $92,913
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $455
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,368
Pay grade: 10
Work city: San Francisco
Work county: San Francisco
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $92,913
Basic Pay (before locality): $92,913
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063290075
Length of Service (Years): 25
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

Neil Mansfield is a Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Interior based in San Francisco, California. 2024 total compensation came to $93,368. They are classified at grade 10.

Michael Ray

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$93,226

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $93,226
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,226
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Longmire
Work county: Pierce
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,226
Basic Pay (before locality): $93,226
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531185053
Length of Service (Years): 31
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WL

At Department of Interior, Michael Ray serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Longmire, Washington. Their 2024 pay totaled $93,226. They are classified at grade 10.

Jesse Rodriguez

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$93,059

Sub-department: Indian Affairs
Base pay: $93,059
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $93,059
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Fort Hall
Work county: Bingham
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $93,059
Basic Pay (before locality): $93,059
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160535011
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Jesse Rodriguez works as a Engineering Equipment Operating for Department of Interior based in Fort Hall, Idaho. Jesse earned $93,059 in 2024. Their pay grade is 09.

Ryan Semorile

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$92,913

Sub-department: National Park Service
Base pay: $92,913
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $92,913
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Point Reyes Station
Work county: Marin
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $92,913
Basic Pay (before locality): $92,913
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062858041
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WG

At Department of Interior, Ryan Semorile serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Point Reyes Station, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $92,913. They are classified at grade 10.

Edward Moulton

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$92,684

Sub-department: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Base pay: $92,684
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $92,684
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Princeton
Work county: Harney
Work state: Oregon

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $92,684
Basic Pay (before locality): $92,684
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 411692025
Length of Service (Years): 17
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

Edward Moulton holds the role of Engineering Equipment Operating at Department of Interior based in Princeton, Oregon. In 2024, their total compensation was $92,684. Their pay grade is 09.

Kenneth Birch

Engineering Equipment Operating/Department of Interior

2024 total comp

$91,953

Sub-department: Bureau of Land Management
Base pay: $91,953
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $91,953
Pay grade: 10
Work city: Wickenburg
Work county: Maricopa
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $91,953
Basic Pay (before locality): $91,953
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040570013
Length of Service (Years): 17
Occupation Code (OPM): 5716
Pay Plan (OPM): WS

At Department of Interior, Kenneth Birch serves as a Engineering Equipment Operating based in Wickenburg, Arizona. Their 2024 pay totaled $91,953. They are classified at grade 10.