How Much Does a Operating Engineer and Heavy Equipment Operator Make in California (CA) in 2026? (Hourly & After-Tax Salary)
Median Annual & Hourly Wage in California (CA)
$69,700/yr ($33.51/hr · $53,538 After-Tax)
Entry-Level (25th Pct)$54,370 ($26.14/hr)
Experienced (90th Pct)$94,100 ($45.24/hr)
Bi-Weekly Net Paycheck$2,059.15
Overtime Rate (1.5x)$50.27/hr
Gross vs. Net After-Tax Pay by Experience Level (2026)
| Level | Hourly | Gross Annual | Federal + FICA + State Tax | Net Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $26.14/hr | $54,370 | −$11,607.41 | $42,762.59 | $1,644.72 |
| Median (Mid-Career) | $33.51/hr | $69,700 | −$16,162.05 | $53,537.95 | $2,059.15 |
| Senior / Top 10% | $45.24/hr | $94,100 | −$24,860.65 | $69,239.35 | $2,663.05 |
Compare Wage Across All 50 U.S. States
Texas ($27.83/hr)California ($33.51/hr)Florida ($26.98/hr)New York ($32.94/hr)Illinois ($29.25/hr)Arizona ($27.55/hr)New Jersey ($31.81/hr)Georgia ($27.26/hr)North Carolina ($26.98/hr)Washington ($32.66/hr)Pennsylvania ($28.12/hr)Ohio ($26.70/hr)Nevada ($27.83/hr)Colorado ($30.10/hr)Virginia ($29.82/hr)Massachusetts ($33.23/hr)Michigan ($27.26/hr)Tennessee ($26.13/hr)Indiana ($26.41/hr)Maryland ($30.67/hr)Minnesota ($29.54/hr)Missouri ($26.13/hr)Wisconsin ($27.55/hr)Oregon ($29.82/hr)Connecticut ($31.52/hr)Utah ($27.55/hr)South Carolina ($25.84/hr)Alabama ($24.99/hr)Louisiana ($25.28/hr)Kentucky ($25.28/hr)Oklahoma ($25.28/hr)Kansas ($26.13/hr)Iowa ($26.41/hr)New Mexico ($26.13/hr)Arkansas ($24.71/hr)Mississippi ($24.14/hr)Nebraska ($26.70/hr)Idaho ($26.41/hr)Hawaii ($30.67/hr)New Hampshire ($29.25/hr)Maine ($26.98/hr)Rhode Island ($28.97/hr)Montana ($26.13/hr)Delaware ($28.68/hr)South Dakota ($25.84/hr)North Dakota ($26.98/hr)Alaska ($30.96/hr)Vermont ($27.83/hr)West Virginia ($24.42/hr)Wyoming ($26.98/hr)