Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $82,740 +40.9% vs national
Median hourly $39.78
10th percentile $54,730
90th percentile $129,590
Employed locally 2,810
National median $58,710

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

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $54,730
    25th
    $66,600
    50th (median)
    $82,740
    75th
    $120,910
    90th
    $129,590

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 81% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 19% below 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 San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Carpenters$73,690
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$93,710
    Construction Laborers$58,600
    Electricians$75,640
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$66,130
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance$50,170

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in San Diego, CA is $39.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $65.42 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in San Diego, CA is 40.9% 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 San Diego?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $54,730 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $66,600.