Quick answer
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in California earned a median of $87,160 a year ($41.90 an hour) in May 2025, 46% above the national median of $59,850; 36,020 were employed there, ranking #4 of 54 states and territories by median pay, per BLS OEWS.
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| Measure | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $87,160 | $59,850 |
| Mean annual wage | $94,000 | $66,290 |
| Median hourly wage | $41.90 | $28.78 |
| 10th percentile | $52,760 | $42,190 |
| 25th percentile | $65,230 | $48,680 |
| 75th percentile | $125,560 | $77,170 |
| 90th percentile | $132,210 | $101,090 |
| Employment | 36,020 | 478,090 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 1.978 | — |
| Location quotient | 0.64 | 1.00 |
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Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.