Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Riverside, CA
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $78,720 a year — 32% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,095 take-home, or $5,008 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,488
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,881
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,141
- California income tax$3,091
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,023
- Take-home pay$60,095
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,640 | $23.38 | $39,662 | $3,305 |
| 25th percentile | $62,190 | $29.90 | $49,560 | $4,130 |
| Median (50th) | $78,720 | $37.85 | $60,095 | $5,008 |
| 75th percentile | $119,170 | $57.29 | $84,264 | $7,022 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,840 | $61.46 | $89,323 | $7,444 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,720 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $60,095 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,458 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator jobs are about as common in Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #13 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $124,750 | $87,539 | $75,717 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $103,100 | $76,402 | $73,751 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $95,750 | $76,190 | $68,558 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $82,190 | $64,256 | $67,146 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $82,270 | $63,778 | $67,072 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $78,950 | $62,983 | $65,972 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $91,650 | $67,820 | $63,580 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $95,050 | $71,130 | $63,191 |
| 13 | Riverside, CA | $78,720 | $60,095 | $56,458 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $124,750
- Sacramento, CA — $91,650
- Los Angeles, CA — $92,890
- San Diego, CA — $83,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Riverside, CA?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $78,720 a year, or about $37.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,190 and $119,170.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $78,720 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,095 a year ($5,008 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,115 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 32% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,458 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #13 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,710
- Electrician — $72,790
- Carpenter — $70,880
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,920
- Roofer — $62,050
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $61,420
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $59,550
- Construction Laborer — $59,500
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $48,910