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

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Median annual salary $117,350 +99.9% vs national
Median hourly $56.42
10th percentile $63,670
90th percentile $148,270
Employed locally 4,560
National median $58,710

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

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

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

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $63,670
    25th
    $83,030
    50th (median)
    $117,350
    75th
    $133,990
    90th
    $148,270

    San Francisco economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $133,780 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 88% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 12% below the area median household income

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

    Metro areaMedian salary
    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
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $98,830

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

    Metro areaMedian salary
    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
    Vallejo, CA $91,590

    Related occupations in San Francisco, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Carpenters $80,950
    Construction Laborers $76,150
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $103,090
    Electricians $93,750
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $71,700
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $61,910

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in San Francisco, CA is $56.42, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $71.76 or more per hour.

    Is San Francisco 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 Francisco, CA is 99.9% 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 Francisco?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $63,670 per year in San Francisco, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $83,030.