--- title: "Operating Engineer Programs in California: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/ description: "Operating Engineer pay in California: BLS average $94,000 (all experience levels), median $87,160, bottom 10% $52,760. 9 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Operating Engineer](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/) 4. California California # Operating Engineer programs in *California* 9 listed heavy equipment operator programs in California, plus BLS pay data for the state and 25 metro areas. - **$94,000** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$52,760** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$87,160** Median pay (state) - **$132,210** Top 10% earn over 36,020 jobs in California · 9 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Cities with listed programs - [Sloughhouse 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/sloughhouse/) - [Whittier 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/whittier/) - [Bakersfield 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/bakersfield/) - [Coalinga 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/coalinga/) - [Orange 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/orange/) - [Oroville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/oroville/) - [Redding 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/redding/) BLS wage data ## Operating Engineer pay in California Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | California | $52,760 | $65,230 | $87,160 | $125,560 | $132,210 | $94,000 | 36,020 | | United States | $42,190 | $48,680 | $59,850 | $77,170 | $101,090 | $66,290 | 478,090 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,910 | $79,200 | $124,750 | $133,820 | $149,260 | $110,300 | 4,080 | | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,680 | $79,470 | $124,340 | $130,150 | $152,760 | $111,400 | 1,360 | | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $56,900 | $74,880 | $105,080 | $130,960 | $144,270 | $101,710 | 710 | | Vallejo, CA | $59,880 | $71,640 | $95,100 | $124,480 | $135,570 | $97,740 | 630 | | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $52,460 | $65,310 | $92,890 | $125,860 | $130,720 | $94,200 | 8,780 | | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $57,910 | $71,650 | $91,650 | $124,500 | $131,260 | $95,640 | 2,920 | | Modesto, CA | $52,020 | $67,740 | $90,560 | $129,270 | $131,850 | $95,910 | 430 | | Napa, CA | $47,760 | $61,640 | $90,060 | $120,490 | $139,140 | $92,040 | 160 | | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $54,520 | $68,810 | $83,670 | $125,700 | $136,080 | $94,160 | 3,130 | | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $53,740 | $68,430 | $83,290 | $124,940 | $131,870 | $92,940 | 780 | | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $52,560 | $65,270 | $81,500 | $113,060 | $131,060 | $86,620 | 400 | | Yuba City, CA | $56,130 | $64,930 | $80,620 | $126,100 | $136,330 | $91,900 | 230 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in California Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in California. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Bakersfield College](https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Bakersfield, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $1,450–$11,530 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Butte College](https://www.butte.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Oroville, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 53 | $1,374–$9,534 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Coalinga College](https://www.westhillscollege.com/coalinga/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Coalinga, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 17 | $1,384–$11,914 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Santiago Canyon College](https://www.sccollege.edu/SitePages/Home.aspx) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Orange, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 23 | $1,160–$11,384 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Shasta College](https://www.shastacollege.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Redding, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 11 | $1,199–$8,927 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | Joint Apprenticeship Committee for Operating Engineers for the 46 Northern Counties in California | Sloughhouse, CA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | Operating Engineers JATC for 46 Northern Counties in CA | Sloughhouse, CA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | SO CA Operating Engineers JAC | Whittier, CA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | Southern California Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship Committee | Whittier, CA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. ### Browse by city - [Sloughhouse 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/sloughhouse/) - [Whittier 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/whittier/) - [Bakersfield 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/bakersfield/) - [Coalinga 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/coalinga/) - [Orange 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/orange/) - [Oroville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/oroville/) - [Redding 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/redding/) Related resources ## Keep researching [**GI Bill heavy equipment operator schools** Schools approved for VA benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/heavy-equipment-operator/) [**Verified CDL training schools** Many equipment jobs also involve hauling machines; compare CDL programs. · VerifiedCDLSchools.com](https://verifiedcdlschools.com/) [**Registered apprenticeships in California** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ca/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [47-2073.00 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2073.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/california/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.