Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,260 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in San Francisco earn between $79,200 and $133,820.
- $61K10th
- $79K25th
- $125KMedian
- $134K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $110,300 | $9,192 | $53.03 |
| Median | $124,750 | $10,396 | $59.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,200 | $6,600 | $38.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,820 | $11,152 | $64.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in San Francisco earn 17% more than the California average ($94,000) and 66% more than the U.S. average ($66,290). At the median the gap is +108% against the U.S. median of $59,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $110,300 | $124,750 | $60,910 | $149,260 | 4,080 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $110,300, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $80,260 a year, or $6,688 a month and $3,087 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 San Francisco a good place for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $110,300 buys what about $95,404 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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
- Napa$92,040
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 San Francisco: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in San Francisco?
$53.03 an hour on average, and $59.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $80,260 a year ($6,688 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $110,300. 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 San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 66% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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