Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in California (2026)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, heavy equipment operator wages in California vary by metro area, experience, and specialization. Below you will find detailed salary data and wage percentile breakdowns.
Heavy-Equipment-Operator Salary in California
Salary Range
Employment & Outlook
Heavy Equipment Operator Wages by Metro Area in California
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators wages in California vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 8,780 | $92,890 | $94,200 | $52,460 | $130,720 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 4,740 | $78,720 | $86,910 | $48,640 | $127,840 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 4,080 | $124,750 | $110,300 | $60,910 | $149,260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 3,130 | $83,670 | $94,160 | $54,520 | $136,080 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 2,920 | $91,650 | $95,640 | $57,910 | $131,260 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 1,360 | $124,340 | $111,400 | $60,680 | $152,760 |
| Fresno | 1,290 | $78,310 | $89,160 | $50,070 | $127,150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | 1,000 | $77,960 | $86,130 | $52,600 | $126,170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | 780 | $83,290 | $92,940 | $53,740 | $131,870 |
| Stockton-Lodi | 760 | $77,420 | $87,990 | $49,490 | $128,960 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | 710 | $105,080 | $101,710 | $56,900 | $144,270 |
| Vallejo | 630 | $95,100 | $97,740 | $59,880 | $135,570 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | 530 | $79,340 | $87,920 | $54,250 | $130,190 |
| Modesto | 430 | $90,560 | $95,910 | $52,020 | $131,850 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | 400 | $81,500 | $86,620 | $52,560 | $131,060 |
| Redding | 340 | $77,090 | $87,040 | $56,880 | $123,570 |
| Salinas | 340 | $80,320 | $90,350 | $59,730 | $131,930 |
| Visalia | 260 | $60,530 | $70,010 | $47,430 | $116,920 |
| El Centro | 240 | $70,830 | $73,100 | $46,970 | $122,530 |
| Chico | 230 | $79,040 | $89,680 | $52,010 | $132,820 |
| Yuba City | 230 | $80,620 | $91,900 | $56,130 | $136,330 |
| Merced | 160 | $74,800 | $83,730 | $51,940 | $126,770 |
| Napa | 160 | $90,060 | $92,040 | $47,760 | $139,140 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | 130 | $75,640 | $83,510 | $55,130 | $136,950 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | 100 | $63,050 | $76,200 | $40,970 | $126,770 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Understanding Wage Percentiles
Wage percentiles show how heavy equipment operator salaries are distributed across California. The 10th percentile represents entry-level wages, while the 90th percentile reflects what experienced professionals earn. The median (50th percentile) is the midpoint where half of heavy equipment operators earn more and half earn less.
These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and reflect reported wages for California. Actual earnings depend on employer, certifications, and years of experience.
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About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |