Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in California
In California, the median pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators is $41.90 an hour ($87,160 a year). About 36,020 people work in this job there.
That is 46% higher than the U.S. median ($59,850). California ranks 4th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $25.37 | $52,760 |
| 25% of workers | $31.36 | $65,230 |
| Half of workers (median) | $41.90 | $87,160 |
| 75% of workers | $60.37 | $125,560 |
| 90% of workers | $63.56 | $132,210 |
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $124,750 | 4,080 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $124,340 | 1,360 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $105,080 | 710 |
| Vallejo | $95,100 | 630 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $92,890 | 8,780 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $91,650 | 2,920 |
| Modesto | $90,560 | 430 |
| Napa | $90,060 | 160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $83,670 | 3,130 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $83,290 | 780 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $81,500 | 400 |
| Yuba City | $80,620 | 230 |
| Salinas | $80,320 | 340 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $79,340 | 530 |
| Chico | $79,040 | 230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $78,720 | 4,740 |
| Fresno | $78,310 | 1,290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $77,960 | 1,000 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $77,420 | 760 |
| Redding | $77,090 | 340 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $75,640 | 130 |
| Merced | $74,800 | 160 |
| El Centro | $70,830 | 240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $63,050 | 100 |
| Visalia | $60,530 | 260 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +4.6% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 39,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 |
| Construction Laborers | $60,270 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $78,550 |
| Millwrights | $77,950 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $79,570 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $83,130 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operators | $62,790 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | $74,500 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.