Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $124,340 a year ($59.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $152,760 for the top 10%. That is 108% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 43% higher than the California statewide median of $87,160. There are 1.2 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.39). The average (mean) salary is $111,400, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,680 | $29.17 |
| 25th percentile | $79,470 | $38.21 |
| Median | $124,340 | $59.78 |
| 75th percentile | $130,150 | $62.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $152,760 | $73.44 |
| Average (mean) | $111,400 | $53.56 |
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 | $10,361.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,180.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,782.31 |
| Weekly | $2,391.15 |
| Hourly | $59.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $124,340 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 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $105,080 | 710 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,100 | 630 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $92,890 | 8,780 |
| 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $91,030 | $43.77 |
| Carpenter | $80,190 | $38.55 |
| Construction Laborer | $68,470 | $32.92 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $107,560 | $51.71 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,970 | $29.79 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $79,430 | $38.19 |
| Roofer | $76,650 | $36.85 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $75,520 | $36.31 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $109,280 | $52.54 |
| Taper | $92,810 | $44.62 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| Glazier | $82,420 | $39.63 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $105,280 | $50.61 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $124,340 a year, or $59.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $152,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $152,760 a year. The top 25% earn $130,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,680 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $79,470 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 1,360 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.