How much does an equipment operator make in California public employers?

Typical pay at each employer, 2026 (everyone paid).

• Los Angeles266 people$119,075
• Riverside County120 people$73,361
• City of San Diego113 people$87,393
• San Diego County104 people$76,637
• San Bernardino County103 people$57,124
• San Joaquin County58 people$72,076
• City of Modesto44 people$77,455
• Placer County44 people$66,380
• City of Long Beach34 people$79,842
• Ventura County29 people$77,847
• Imperial County20 people$45,081
• Madera County15 people$51,922
• Coachella Valley Water District11 people$103,924
• Richmond11 people$94,469
• City of Fullerton11 people$73,071
• City of Arcadia11 people$84,429
• Nevada Irrigation District11 people$90,295
• City of Torrance9 people$75,082
• City of Moreno Valley8 people$97,186
• City of Glendale8 people$78,764
• Central California Irrigation District7 people$66,795
• City of Redlands7 people$70,800
• West Kern Water District7 people$74,943
• City of Santa Clara7 people$123,966
• City of La Mesa7 people$62,167
• Oakdale Irrigation District6 people$84,888
• City of Irvine6 people$128,025
• City of Antioch6 people$97,639
• Tulelake Irrigation District6 people$46,810
• City of Delano6 people$70,941
• City of Chula Vista6 people$108,850
• Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District6 people$85,013
• Orange County6 people$23,867
• City of Redondo Beach5 people$67,582
• City of Rancho Cucamonga5 people$84,892
• City of Redding5 people$83,378
• Madera Irrigation District5 people$82,920
• Vista Irrigation District5 people$90,811
• City of Palo Alto5 people$109,229
• Helix Water District5 people$112,016
• Desert Water Agency5 people$63,495
• City of National City5 people$86,713
• San Diego Unified Port District5 people$92,091
• City of Indio4 people$52,943
• City of Hesperia4 people$61,297
• City of Hayward4 people$64,514
• Kern County4 people$66,429
• City of Santee4 people$78,997
• North Kern Water Storage District4 people$33,023
• Kern Delta Water District4 people$67,618
• City of San Buenaventura4 people$84,470
• City of Belmont4 people$89,700
• Solano Irrigation District3 people$28,028
• Sweetwater Authority3 people$100,091
• Basin Irrigation and Drainage Authority3 people$23,806
• Arvin-Edison Water Storage District3 people$71,244
• Hayward Area Recreation and Park District3 people$18,064
• City of El Centro3 people$69,527
• City of Victorville3 people$79,342
• City of Whittier3 people$60,531
• City of Orange3 people$82,713
• Goleta Water District3 people$136,309
• South Feather Water and Power Agency2 people$94,467
• North Tahoe Public Utility District2 people$91,188
• City of Santa Ana2 people$94,041
• Panoche Water District2 people$66,568
• Westlands Water District2 people$76,601
• City of Arcata2 people$60,486
• Reclamation District No. 20372 people$2,565
• City of Clovis2 people$107,412
• Henry Miller Reclamation District No. 21312 people$84,294
• Bard Water District2 people$57,362
• City of Fountain Valley2 people$74,887
• Provident Irrigation District2 people$26,567
• City of Tustin2 people$110,962
• City of Auburn2 people$67,704
• City of South Gate2 people$79,362
• Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District1 person$61,966
• City of Shafter1 person$79,401
• Princeton-Codora-Glenn Irrigation District1 person$59,448
• City of Corning1 person$73,323
• City of Laguna Beach1 person$106,828
• City of Crescent City1 person$63,592
• Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District1 person$88,707
• Western Canal Water District1 person$63,948
• City of West Covina1 person$56,055
• Hi-Desert Water District1 person$122,014
• Alpaugh Irrigation District1 person$67,544
• Kings Waste and Recycling Authority1 person$50,878
• City of Blythe1 person$88,298
• City of San Dimas1 person$98,838
• Conejo Recreation and Park District1 person$80,128
• Reclamation District No. 1081 person$72,858
• City of Westminster1 person$93,898
• City of Pacifica1 person$86,892
• Alta Irrigation District1 person$56,092
• City of Oakdale1 person$28,087
• Corcoran Irrigation District1 person$9,103

No employers match.

Pay by level

Levels with 5 or more people.

• Equipment Operator I116 people$65,879
• Equipment Operator II295 people$77,599
• Equipment Operator803 people$82,861
• Equipment Operator III56 people$86,001
• Equipment Operator IV7 people$86,173

Related jobs and the next step up

Same line of work at a different rank, by typical pay (full-year employees where we can tell*).

1. Senior Equipment Operator$86,425 (everyone)
2. Equipment Operator (this page)$99,090

Highest-paid equipment operators, 2026

1. 1Efren GarciaEquipment Operator · Los Angeles$219,470
2. 2Aaron CovarrubiasEquipment Operator · Los Angeles$194,830
3. 3Alejandro SanchezEquipment Operator · Los Angeles$191,683
4. 4David LiraEquipment Operator · Los Angeles$191,385
5. 5Rolando SotoEquipment Operator · Los Angeles$189,385

Common questions