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Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in California
Get the information you need to know about working as an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator.
You’re in luck! Jobs for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in California are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.
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Projected employment for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in California is growing faster than average.
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Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in California earn higher salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
What Major Will Prepare You For an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Career?
- Transportation & Materials Moving
- Ground Transportation
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
- Mobil Crane Operation/Operator
How Many Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Work in California?
In 2018, there were 28,110 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators working in the state.
There were 26,040 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 2,070 jobs between 2017 and 2018.
The typical state has 5,620 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators working in it, which means California has more Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators than average.
Job Projections for California
Jobs for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in this state are growing at a rate of 15.6% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 12.3%.
California Annual Job Openings
The BLS estimates 3,560 annual job openings, and a total of 31,100 jobs for California Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in 2026.
Nationwide, the prediction is 47,300 annual jobs and 416,900 total jobs in 2026.
What do Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Make in California?
In 2018 wages for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators ranged from $45,820 to $102,320 with $71,120 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $22.03 to $49.19. The median hourly rate was $34.19.
In 2017 the median pay for this field was $32.84 an hour.
The hourly rate grew by $1.35.
The median salary in California is higher than the nationwide median salary.
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Top California Metros for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators
The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators.
| Metro | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 5,990 | $83,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 4,210 | $85,100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,660 | $80,470 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 2,470 | $62,930 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | 2,180 | $67,350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,260 | $83,620 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 910 | $49,720 |
| Fresno, CA | 690 | $56,840 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 680 | $67,760 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 480 | $53,200 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 470 | $68,680 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 390 | $81,270 |
| Redding, CA | 370 | $55,420 |
| Modesto, CA | 360 | $63,950 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 340 | $60,360 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 320 | $63,540 |
| Salinas, CA | 290 | $63,990 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 270 | $43,670 |
| El Centro, CA | 160 | $46,090 |
| Chico, CA | 150 | $53,190 |
| Merced, CA | 120 | $55,650 |
| Yuba City, CA | 120 | $55,430 |
| Napa, CA | 100 | $69,920 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 80 | $57,220 |
| Madera, CA | 70 | $55,420 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 40 | $52,560 |
Top States for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Employment
View the list below to see where most Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators work.
| State | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 42,880 | $39,400 |
| California | 28,110 | $71,120 |
| Pennsylvania | 21,110 | $48,700 |
| Florida | 18,720 | $37,580 |
| Ohio | 15,500 | $53,060 |
| New York | 13,160 | $69,590 |
| North Carolina | 12,720 | $37,930 |
| Georgia | 11,360 | $36,100 |
| Colorado | 11,290 | $49,460 |
| Illinois | 11,150 | $83,860 |
| Virginia | 10,450 | $40,220 |
| Minnesota | 10,010 | $64,750 |
| Indiana | 9,160 | $53,790 |
| Louisiana | 8,820 | $43,600 |
| Washington | 8,750 | $64,880 |
| Wisconsin | 7,970 | $63,320 |
| Michigan | 7,870 | $52,240 |
| Arizona | 7,400 | $45,930 |
| Missouri | 7,290 | $51,570 |
| Massachusetts | 7,010 | $60,840 |
Below are the states where Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators get paid the most:
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $83,860 |
| Hawaii | $82,000 |
| New Jersey | $71,650 |
| California | $71,120 |
| Alaska | $70,210 |
| New York | $69,590 |
| Connecticut | $67,880 |
| Washington | $64,880 |
| Minnesota | $64,750 |
| Wisconsin | $63,320 |
Related Careers in California
You may also be interested in the following careers:
| Occupation | California Employment Total |
|---|---|
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 2,870 |
| Pile-Driver Operators | 460 |
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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