Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$52,760
- 25th Percentile — Junior$65,230
- 50th Percentile — Median$87,160
- 75th Percentile — Senior$125,560
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$132,210
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in California earn more than $87,160. The top 10% make $132,210 or more, while entry-level workers start around $52,760.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $94,000 per year (41.8% above the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 36,020 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in California — 7.5% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.64: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $52,760; the top 10% earn over $132,210.
- Hourly equivalent: $45.19 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in California, Construction and Building Inspectors pays the most ($103,850).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $94,000 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $94,000 is roughly equivalent to $66,197 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($102,020), New Jersey ($93,270), New York ($90,690) are the closest alternatives for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Construction Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Construction and Building Inspectors $103,850/yr California +10.5% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $103,760/yr California +10.4% vs this role
- Pipelayers $94,440/yr California +0.5% vs this role
- Electricians $85,860/yr California 8.7% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $85,580/yr California 9.0% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $82,320/yr California 12.4% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $80,920/yr California 13.9% vs this role
- Carpenters $78,810/yr California 16.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in California?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in California is $94,000 per year (median $87,160), which is 41.8% above the national average of $66,290.
How does California rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($102,020/yr).
How much do entry-level Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in California earn about $52,760 per year and the 25th percentile is $65,230.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in California?
About $45.19 per hour, based on the $94,000 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in California?
BLS counts 36,020 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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