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How much do construction equipment operators make in San Jose, CA in 2026?

Government wage survey, BLS OEWS May 2025. Updated June 2026.

In 2026, construction equipment operators in San Jose, CA earn a median of $124,340 per year ($59.78/hr), according to BLS OEWS (May 2025). That is about $37,180 above the California statewide median. Last updated June 2026.

Median pay (50th pct)

$124,340/yr

Half of San Jose, CA construction equipment operators earn between $79,470 and $130,150 per year.

$79,470/yr$124,340/yr$130,150/yr

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Construction Equipment Operator pay in San Jose, CA: key numbers
Median pay$124,340/yr ($59.78/hr)
Pay range (25th–75th percentile)$79,470 – $130,150/yr
Vs California statewide median+$37,180/yr
Construction Equipment Operators employed in this metro1,360
Job concentration vs national0.39×
SourceBLS OEWS May 2025
Last updatedJune 2026

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Construction Equipment Operator pay in San Jose, CA vs California

The median construction equipment operator wage in San Jose, CA is $124,340/yr (BLS OEWS May 2025). The California statewide median is $87,160/yr (BLS OEWS May 2025) , so this metro runs about $37,180/yr above the state figure. See the full California page

  • 1,360 construction equipment operators employed in this metro (BLS May 2025).
  • Job concentration: 0.39× the national average for this trade (less concentrated here).

About this data

Metro wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS metropolitan program (May 2025), the authoritative public source for occupational pay, reported here for the San Jose, CA metro area. We don't hold union scales or member submissions at metro level yet, so this page shows BLS metro data only; each figure is labeled with its source.

Construction Equipment Operator pay in San Jose, CA: FAQ

What is the median construction equipment operator salary in San Jose, CA?
The median construction equipment operator wage in San Jose, CA is $124,340 a year, or about $59.78 an hour (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the pay range for construction equipment operators in San Jose, CA?
In San Jose, CA, construction equipment operators earn from $79,470 (25th percentile) to $130,150 (75th percentile) a year, with a median of $124,340 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Does San Jose, CA pay more than the California average for construction equipment operators?
The San Jose, CA median of $124,340 runs about $37,180 a year above the California statewide median of $87,160 (BLS OEWS).
How much do construction equipment operators make an hour in San Jose, CA?
The median construction equipment operator in San Jose, CA earns about $59.78/hr, based on the $124,340/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025, at 2,080 hours a year). Overtime and union scale can run higher.
How much do construction equipment operators make a month in San Jose, CA?
That is about $10,362/mo before taxes, from the $124,340/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Sources

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