Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Bakersfield, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Bakersfield-Delano, CA

Median annual salary $77,250 +31.6% vs national
Median hourly $37.14
10th percentile $51,330
90th percentile $123,970
Employed locally 1,010
National median $58,710

Compare Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary & buying power

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Bakersfield, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,330
    25th
    $59,900
    50th (median)
    $77,250
    75th
    $113,750
    90th
    $123,970

    Bakersfield economic context

    Unemployment rate 8.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $67,660 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 114% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 14% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $117,350
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $115,500
    Urban Honolulu, HI $109,740
    Hawaii $105,440
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $101,200
    Springfield, IL $99,950

    Nearby metros — Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $117,350
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $115,500
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $101,200
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $98,830
    Decatur, IL $96,700
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $93,220

    Related occupations in Bakersfield, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $93,470
    Construction Laborers $58,820
    Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas $62,100
    Electricians $75,310
    Carpenters $66,960
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $71,360

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators make per hour in Bakersfield?

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Bakersfield, CA is $37.14, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $60.66 or more per hour.

    Is Bakersfield above or below average for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries?

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Bakersfield, CA is 31.6% above the national median of $58,710. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Bakersfield?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $51,330 per year in Bakersfield, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $59,900.