Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $75,640 a year ($36.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,950 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 13% lower than the California statewide median of $87,160. There are 1.3 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $83,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,130 | $26.51 |
| 25th percentile | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Median | $75,640 | $36.36 |
| 75th percentile | $96,850 | $46.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,950 | $65.84 |
| Average (mean) | $83,510 | $40.15 |
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 | $6,303.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,151.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,909.23 |
| Weekly | $1,454.62 |
| Hourly | $36.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,640 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Construction Laborer | $58,500 | $28.13 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $68,130 | $32.75 |
| Electrician | $76,610 | $36.83 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Roofer | $61,640 | $29.64 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $74,740 | $35.93 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | $68,210 | $32.79 |
| Glazier | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $59,770 | $28.73 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $69,550 | $33.44 |
| Stonemason | $59,620 | $28.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $87,180 | $41.91 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $75,640 a year, or $36.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $136,950 a year. The top 25% earn $96,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,130 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $61,210 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 130 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.