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

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Merced, CA

Median annual salary $72,920 +24.2% vs national
Median hourly $35.06
10th percentile $53,140
90th percentile $123,010
Employed locally 140
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
Merced, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $53,140
    25th
    $59,660
    50th (median)
    $72,920
    75th
    $115,010
    90th
    $123,010

    Merced economic context

    Unemployment rate 9.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,044 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 112% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 12% 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 Merced, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Carpenters $64,140
    Construction Laborers $55,330
    Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers $48,060
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $79,860
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $56,590
    Electricians $64,470

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Merced, CA is $35.06, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $60.95 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Merced, CA is 24.2% 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 Merced?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $53,140 per year in Merced, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $59,660.