Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $92,890 a year ($44.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,720 for the top 10%. That is 55% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 7% higher than the California statewide median of $87,160. There are 1.4 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $94,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,460 | $25.22 |
| 25th percentile | $65,310 | $31.40 |
| Median | $92,890 | $44.66 |
| 75th percentile | $125,860 | $60.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,720 | $62.85 |
| Average (mean) | $94,200 | $45.29 |
Half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,740.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,870.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,572.69 |
| Weekly | $1,786.35 |
| Hourly | $44.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $92,890 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $124,750 | 4,080 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $124,340 | 1,360 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $105,080 | 710 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,100 | 630 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $91,650 | 2,920 |
| Modesto, CA | $90,560 | 430 |
| Napa, CA | $90,060 | 160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,670 | 3,130 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $83,290 | 780 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,500 | 400 |
| Yuba City, CA | $80,620 | 230 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,320 | 340 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $79,340 | 530 |
| Chico, CA | $79,040 | 230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,720 | 4,740 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,310 | 1,290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,960 | 1,000 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,420 | 760 |
| Redding, CA | $77,090 | 340 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $75,640 | 130 |
| Merced, CA | $74,800 | 160 |
| El Centro, CA | $70,830 | 240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $63,050 | 100 |
| Visalia, CA | $60,530 | 260 |
Highest-paying states for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 |
| Illinois | $97,740 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 |
| California | $87,160 |
| Washington | $81,700 |
| New York | $80,980 |
| Indiana | $79,580 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 |
| Alaska | $77,810 |
See Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | $75,740 | $36.41 |
| Construction Laborer | $58,810 | $28.28 |
| Electrician | $73,810 | $35.49 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $71,110 | $34.19 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,080 | $28.41 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $62,800 | $30.19 |
| Roofer | $63,560 | $30.56 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $72,710 | $34.96 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $58,600 | $28.18 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $78,040 | $37.52 |
| Glazier | $64,160 | $30.85 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $59,600 | $28.65 |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | $57,930 | $27.85 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2073. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $92,890 a year, or $44.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $130,720 a year. The top 25% earn $125,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,460 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $65,310 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 8,780 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.