SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — Merced
Merced, CA · 10 metro areas compared
In Merced, CA the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is $74,800 a year, which is 25.0% higher than the national figure of $59,850.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Merced, CA the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is $74,800 a year, which is 25.0% higher than the national figure of $59,850. Half of workers earn between $60,360 and $117,860. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $51,940 and the ninetieth at $126,770.
The area has 160 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.67 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $124,750. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 85th of 272 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,940 | −13.2% |
| 25th | $60,360 | +0.9% |
| Median (50th) | $74,800 | +25.0% |
| 75th | $117,860 | +96.9% |
| 90th | $126,770 | +111.8% |
| Mean | $83,730 | +39.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $124,750 | 4,080 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $124,340 | 1,360 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $105,080 | 710 | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $95,100 | 630 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $92,890 | 8,780 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $91,650 | 2,920 | |
| 7 | Modesto | $90,560 | 430 | |
| 8 | Napa | $90,060 | 160 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $83,670 | 3,130 | |
| 10 | Oxnard | $83,290 | 780 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Merced run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $74,800 buys what $67,570 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$74,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,570US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $74,800 a year, 25.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $51,940 to $126,770 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 160 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $124,750.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Merced, CA?
The median annual wage is $74,800, or $35.96 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $59,850, so pay in Merced, CA is 25.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Merced, CA earns more than $126,770 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $51,940 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $124,750 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 160 jobs in this occupation in Merced, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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