Paycheck Atlas

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $75,640 a year, 26% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $4,729 a month.

10th percentile
$55,130
25th percentile
$61,210
Median percentile
$75,640
75th percentile
$96,850
90th percentile
$136,950

Based on 130 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$56,748 take-home a year
Gross pay$75,640
Federal income tax−$7,811
Social Security + Medicare−$5,786
California income tax (approx.)−$5,295
Monthly take-home$4,729
Every two weeks$2,183

Does it go far here?

$68,829Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
48%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,264 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

JobMedian pay
Registered Nurses$170,960
Software Developers$156,910
Sales Managers$117,090
General and Operations Managers$105,360
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,260
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,810
Accountants and Auditors$84,920
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,010

All operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salaries · Take-home pay in California