How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in San Diego?
Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $40.23 an hour or $6,973 a month.
- Hourly
- $40.23
- Vs. national median
- +40%
- Rank among cities
- 30 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 3,130
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,520 | $26.21 | |
| 25th | $68,810 | $33.08 | |
| Median | $83,670 | $40.23 | |
| 75th | $125,700 | $60.43 | |
| 90th | $136,100 | $65.42 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators.
| San Francisco, CA | $124,800 |
| San Jose, CA | $124,300 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $105,100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $92,890 |
| Sacramento, CA | $91,650 |
| Modesto, CA | $90,560 |
| Napa, CA | $90,060 |
| Oxnard, CA | $83,290 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $81,500 |
| Yuba City, CA | $80,620 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,320 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $79,340 |
| Chico, CA | $79,040 |
| Riverside, CA | $78,720 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,310 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $77,960 |
| Stockton, CA | $77,420 |
| Redding, CA | $77,090 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $75,640 |
| Merced, CA | $74,800 |
| El Centro, CA | $70,830 |
| Hanford, CA | $63,050 |
| Visalia, CA | $60,530 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer | $140,300 |
| Insulation Worker | $112,300 |
| Construction and Building Inspector | $98,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker | $95,850 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $80,080 |
| Taper | $76,720 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $76,400 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer | $76,290 |
| Electrician | $76,160 |
| Carpenter | $73,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $40.23 ($83,670 a year).
Do operating engineer and other construction equipment operators make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $83,670 against $59,850 nationally, 40% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $87,160, so San Diego pays 4% less.
Where does San Diego rank for operating engineer and other construction equipment operator pay?
30 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $54,520 or less a year; the top 10% make $136,100 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.