Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, San Diego

$83,670

BLS OEWS median annual wage in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. Middle half of wages roughly $68,810 to $125,700.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median
+39.8%
US median
$59,850
Metro RPP
111.9
Middle half
$68,810 to $125,700
OEWS employment
3,130
SOC
47-2073

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in San Diego pay a median $83,670 (May 2025), 39.8% above the US median of $59,850. At local prices (RPP 111.9), that median buys about what $74,772 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$83,670 in San Diego buys about what $74,772 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 111.9, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 179.3 vs all-items 111.9 (US = 100, 2024).

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in nearby metros

Metro Median Middle half RPP
San Diego $83,670 $68,810 to $125,700 111.9
New York $95,050 $71,170 to $129,600 112.6
San Francisco $124,750 $79,200 to $133,820 115.6
Tulsa $48,420 $45,410 to $56,760 89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in San Diego?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $83,670.
How does San Diego pay compare to the US median for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators?
Local median pay is 39.8% above the national OEWS median of $59,850.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
BEA RPP for San Diego is 111.9 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $83,670 has about the same purchasing power as $74,772 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?
Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

  • BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
  • BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
  • Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

  • Federal, state, or local income taxes
  • Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
  • Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.