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

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

Median annual salary $87,030 +48.2% vs national
Median hourly $41.84
10th percentile $54,980
90th percentile $128,660
Employed locally 470
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
Modesto, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $54,980
    25th
    $66,880
    50th (median)
    $87,030
    75th
    $123,740
    90th
    $128,660

    Modesto economic context

    Unemployment rate 6.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,661 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 109% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 9% 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 Modesto, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Carpenters $64,910
    Construction Laborers $58,390
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $95,040
    Electricians $75,380
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $61,310
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $49,900

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Modesto, CA is $41.84, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $63.39 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Modesto, CA is 48.2% 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 Modesto?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $54,980 per year in Modesto, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $66,880.