SOC 47-2073 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators — San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA · 10 metro areas compared
In San Luis Obispo, CA the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators reaches $79,340 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In San Luis Obispo, CA the median wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators reaches $79,340 a year. That is 32.6% more than the national median of $59,850. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $62,710 and $116,750. The lowest tenth earn under $54,250, while the highest tenth earn more than $130,190.
Employment stands at 530, or 4.3 jobs per thousand held locally. 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 127th of 361 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,250 | −9.4% |
| 25th | $62,710 | +4.8% |
| Median (50th) | $79,340 | +32.6% |
| 75th | $116,750 | +95.1% |
| 90th | $130,190 | +117.5% |
| Mean | $87,920 | +46.9% |
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 San Luis Obispo run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $79,340 buys what $71,671 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 19.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,340as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$71,671US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,340 a year, 32.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $54,250 to $130,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 530 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 San Luis Obispo, CA?
The median annual wage is $79,340, or $38.14 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 San Luis Obispo, CA is 32.6% 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 San Luis Obispo, CA earns more than $130,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $54,250 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 530 jobs in this occupation in San Luis Obispo, 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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