Salary Index · All Industries
Operating Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
A mid-level Operating Engineer in San Diego, CA earns a median $83,670, ranging $68,810 (P25) to $136,080 (P90).
Operating Engineer salary percentiles in San Diego, CA
Mid-level (L3) annual base pay. The live page lets you switch seniority from intern to executive.
| Percentile | Annual base |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $68,810 |
| Median (50th) | $83,670 |
| 75th percentile | $125,700 |
| 90th percentile | $136,080 |
| Mean | $94,160 |
Job outlook
Nationally, Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is projected to grow +2.7% with ~38,200 annual openings (BLS projections) — the same figure applies across metros since BLS doesn't publish occupational growth projections below the national level.
Methodology
These Operating Engineer bands for San Diego, CA draw from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). Every percentile traces to a named public source — no anonymous self-reported numbers, no forum threads.
Frequently asked questions
Where does this operating engineer salary data for San Diego, CA come from?
Every percentile for operating engineer roles in San Diego, CA is sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) data — public government records, not anonymous self-reported figures.
Are San Diego, CA operating engineer salaries self-reported?
No. Unlike crowd-sourced salary sites, every band for this San Diego, CA figure traces to a named public source (BLS OES, DOL OFLC) — no forum threads, no unverified user submissions.
How are the P25–P90 percentiles calculated for San Diego, CA?
They come from BLS OES percentile wage estimates for operating engineer roles in the San Diego, CA metropolitan area, supplemented by DOL prevailing-wage data where employer sponsorship is common.
How current is the San Diego, CA data?
BLS OES is updated annually and DOL OFLC filings are released through the year; the operating engineer figures for San Diego, CA refresh on a quarterly cadence.
Related pages
Operating Engineer salary in other metros
Sources: BLS OES, DOL OFLC public filings. Updated quarterly.