Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, San Jose

$124,340

BLS OEWS median annual wage in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Middle half of wages roughly $79,470 to $130,150.

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

vs US median
+107.8%
US median
$59,850
Metro RPP
110.4
Middle half
$79,470 to $130,150
OEWS employment
1,360
SOC
47-2073

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in San Jose pay a median $124,340 (May 2025), 107.8% above the US median of $59,850. At local prices (RPP 110.4), that median buys about what $112,627 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$124,340 in San Jose buys about what $112,627 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 110.4, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 211.9 vs all-items 110.4 (US = 100, 2024).

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in nearby metros

Metro Median Middle half RPP
San Jose $124,340 $79,470 to $130,150 110.4
Urban Honolulu $117,630 $87,570 to $120,500 111
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 Jose?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $124,340.
How does San Jose pay compare to the US median for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators?
Local median pay is 107.8% above the national OEWS median of $59,850.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
BEA RPP for San Jose is 110.4 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $124,340 has about the same purchasing power as $112,627 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.