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

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Median annual salary $79,410 +35.3% vs national
Median hourly $38.18
10th percentile $51,290
90th percentile $127,710
Employed locally 420
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
Santa Maria, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,290
    25th
    $64,020
    50th (median)
    $79,410
    75th
    $110,870
    90th
    $127,710

    Santa Maria economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $95,977 2023 • Census ACS
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary vs area income 83% Median Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary is 17% 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 Maria, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $56,490
    Carpenters $63,040
    Painters, Construction and Maintenance $49,090
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $90,050
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $60,790
    Electricians $75,780

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Santa Maria, CA is $38.18, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $63.01 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Maria 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 Maria, CA is 35.3% 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 Maria?

    Entry-level Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $51,290 per year in Santa Maria, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $64,020.