Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $74,430 +26.8% vs national
Median hourly $35.78
10th percentile $59,730
90th percentile $125,630
Employed locally 190
National median $58,710

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

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

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,730
    25th
    $67,200
    50th (median)
    $74,430
    75th
    $104,260
    90th
    $125,630

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 68% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 32% 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 Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Carpenters $72,740
    Construction Laborers $59,900
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $86,630
    Electricians $76,940
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $69,350
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $59,560

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Santa Cruz, CA is $35.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $65.84 or more per hour.

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

    The median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 26.8% 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 Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $59,730 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $67,200.