Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,930 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Salinas earn between $65,850 and $119,820.
- $60K10th
- $66K25th
- $80KMedian
- $120K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $90,350 | $7,529 | $43.44 |
| Median | $80,320 | $6,693 | $38.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,850 | $5,488 | $31.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,820 | $9,985 | $57.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Salinas earn 4% less than the California average ($94,000) and 36% more than the U.S. average ($66,290). At the median the gap is +34% against the U.S. median of $59,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $90,350 | $80,320 | $59,730 | $131,930 | 340 |
| California | $94,000 | $87,160 | $52,760 | $132,210 | 36,020 |
| United States | $66,290 | $59,850 | $42,190 | $101,090 | 478,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Salinas
On the average salary of $90,350, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $68,081 a year, or $5,673 a month and $2,618 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Salinas a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $90,350 buys what about $82,858 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 12th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($111,400).
- San Jose$111,400
- San Francisco$110,300
- Santa Rosa$101,710
- Vallejo$97,740
- Modesto$95,910
- Sacramento$95,640
- Los Angeles$94,200
- San Diego$94,160
- Oxnard$92,940
- Salinas$90,350
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($111,400).
- San Jose, CA$111,400
- San Francisco, CA$110,300
- Kahului, HI$106,970
- Honolulu, HI$104,010
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,710
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by city
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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Salinas: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Salinas?
$43.44 an hour on average, and $38.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Salinas?
About $68,081 a year ($5,673 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $90,350. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2073; area Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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