Operating Engineers
Drive and control heavy machinery used to construct roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures.
Operating Engineers Build California
Average yearly earnings
$64k - $114k
Average yearly earnings
$64k - $110k
Average yearly earnings
$73k - $112k
AVERAGE WAGE
$32/hour +
Apprentice
$52/hour +
Journeyperson
Demand through 2030 : High
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
-
Driver’s License -
+ 3-4 Years On-the-Job Training
-
+ other requirements
Driver’s License 
+ 3-4 Years On-the-Job Training 
+ other requirements Want to know more?
Operating engineers maneuver, maintain, and repair machinery that moves materials, or excavates and compacts earth.
They work in all environments, including underground and on-water, and sometimes from great heights.
Become an Operating Engineer
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View Job ListingsBuild California Ambassador Spotlight: Joyce Lewis
Since launch in Q4 2019, Build California has engaged with over 58,100 students through career fairs, student presentations, and industry activations to educate students on career opportunities in construction. We would not have been able to achieve this without the help of our amazing Ambassadors. Build California Ambassadors are industry …
continue readingBuild California Ambassador Spotlight: Christopher Tiamzon
In 2023, Build California has engaged with over 35,700 students (about twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) through career fairs, student presentations, and industry activations to educate students on career opportunities in construction. We would not have been able to achieve this without the help of our amazing …
continue readingMeet the Women Who Build California
Whether it’s running a company, managing a job site, or cutting metal, women can do it all! 💪 "Women bring a unique capability and skillset that our industry needs." -Diana Kimble, CEO of Royal Electric Co. Build California connected with eight #WomenInConstruction who shared their struggles, pivots, triumphs, and pride about how construction has …
continue readingLaborers in the Construction Industry: aka the “Backbone”
Hugo de la Torre, Director of Apprenticeship at NorCal Laborers, takes pride in the work that he does and says that being a Laborer is one of the most integral, versatile, and diverse roles one can be a part of. Simply put – they are the backbone of the construction …
continue readingVibe with Your Mental Health, 10/10 Recommend
We get it, prioritizing your mental health can be challenging any day of the week. Between working hard, playing hard, providing for your family, building your legacy, and everything in between, it’s so easy to let your mental health slip. But neglecting your mental health is not the vibe. So, pause, …
continue readingBuilding a Green California: Sustainability and Technology in Construction
In our industry, we like to work hard. But we know it’s not always about working harder, but it’s about working smarter. That’s where tech can help! As the construction industry continues to evolve, making processes better and more efficient, there’s a growing opportunity to utilize tech in our sustainability efforts. Have …
continue readingShe Builds California: Q&A with Operating Engineer, Melanie Baker
Melanie Baker is a journeyperson operating engineer with one of our Build California champions, Teichert Construction, and with Operating Engineers (OE) Local 3. March’s focuses were on operating engineers and Women’s History Month, so Melanie was the perfect person for our latest Q&A. We connected with Melanie to talk about her …
continue reading4 Steps to Become a Construction Estimator
Ready to start your career as a construction estimator? We’ve got the down and dirty on how to get there in four simple steps. #1 Determine Career Fit There are so many career paths in the construction industry. So, before you jump right in, make sure estimating is the right career fit …
continue readingRebuilding California: Construction Workers Prove Essential in Times of Crisis
Despite the many beautiful parts of our Golden State, California residents live with the increasingly harsh realities of fire season. In 2020, the state experienced 9,121 fires, totaling a loss of 4,133,520 acres in the process. Within those millions of acres affected, families were displaced, homes destroyed, businesses ruined, ecosystems disrupted, …
continue readingEarn While You Learn: Here’s the 411 on Construction Apprenticeships
So, you know that the construction industry has some serious perks. But, how do you get started? One great way is an apprenticeship! Apprenticeships have been around for centuries. You won’t be limited to just sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher for hours- with apprenticeship training, you’ll get …
continue readingHappy 2nd Birthday, Build California
It’s hard to believe another year has passed… the Build California Initiative is now two years old! Two years of showing just how much this industry matters. Two years of amplifying the voices of our construction family. Two years of growing our network across the state. Two years of inspiring, engaging …
continue readingBuild California e-cademy is Here! 5 Must-Knows About Our Online Construction Learning Platform
We’ve been building something exciting, and we’re so ready to show you! Drum roll, please... Now announcing the Build California e-cademy, an e-learning platform to prepare you for a career in the construction industry through a series of classes, courses, and camps — even before an apprenticeship. Now’s your chance to explore …
continue reading5 Tips for Maintaining Your Social Wellness, On the Construction Job Site and Off
Are you maintaining your social wellness? It may be more important than you think! Social wellness “can be defined as one’s ability to effectively interact with those around him/herself and to create a support system that includes friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc.” Also known as your well-being, social wellness helps you maintain …
continue reading#IYouWe: Asian American Voices in Construction
As one of the most underrepresented groups in our industry — making up just under 1.5% of workers — Asian American voices in construction may not always be heard. But, it’s critical to help amplify their voices and hear firsthand about their experiences so #IYouWe can make the construction family one …
continue readingShe Builds California: Q&A with Operating Engineer, Tana Harris
It’s been an exciting month! Not only have we been hyping up all of the cool perks of being an operating engineer, but we’ve also featured the women crushing stereotypes in our industry for Women’s History Month. Now, we have a unique perspective with the best of both worlds. Check out …
continue readingSo, You Want to Talk About Soft Skills in Construction…
You might think you know what it takes to be a construction worker. Maybe it’s that they know how to use a hammer, can operate a crane, or understand how to read a blueprint. But, beyond the brains and brawn typically associated with our industry, there’s also an array of soft …
continue readingDecoding the Trade: How Software Engineers Work in Construction
When we talk about software engineering, it might feel like we’re speaking a completely different language. Where do software engineers fit into construction? What do they do? That’s why we’re here! Let’s decode this trade together. Construction in the Modern Age We know that some believe our industry is only traditional, or not …
continue readingIronworker Q&A with Martinez Steel’s Bryan Berber
All month long, we’ve featured the perks of being a construction ironworker, where you can cut, weld, and fabricate the structures of amazing projects all across the Golden State! Our friend Bryan Berber from Martinez Steel is helping us show you even more reasons to explore a future in ironworking. Check …
continue reading#IYouWe: Building a More Diverse Industry is Good Business
In the construction family, we’re proud to have workers from all walks of life. We know your generation is more diverse than any generation before, and the future California workforce deserves an industry committed to that diversity. But, there’s still work to do. Systemic, positive change in the industry can start …
continue readingCelebrating a Year of Firsts: Build California’s One-Year Anniversary
We’re switching out our hard hats for party hats because… it’s our birthday! Today, the Build California Initiative turns one, and there’s so much to celebrate. We said we were building something big, and that’s just what we’ve done. During the last 12 months, we’ve grown and learned so much, all …
continue reading#IYouWe: Allyship in Construction
Change is coming for the construction industry. As national conversations emerge surrounding how to make our communities and industries more inclusive, Build California is committed to doing our part. Join us as #IYouWe make the construction industry and California better for all. Our state of California is diverse, with different identities and …
continue readingWhat’s All of the Hype Around Modular Construction?
Modular construction is quickly catching the attention of construction professionals across the state and innovating the way we #buildcalifornia. Learn a little bit more about this modern approach to our projects. What is it? In modular construction, as the name suggests, “modules” of buildings are constructed in a controlled, indoor workspace rather …
continue reading3 Things You Need to Know About Safety Managers
Safety is always our top priority in construction, and we can thank Safety Managers for their hard work to protect our workers. Safety Managers develop and evaluate safety procedures that help keep people and property on job sites stay safe each day. But, they do so much more than that. Here …
continue reading4 Ways to Kick Start Your Virtual Construction Education
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continue readingWomen in Construction: It Just Makes Sense
Build California and Procore.org polled women leaders from across the construction industry. The question was simple: why should women work in construction? Here’s what they said: 1. Rewarding: In construction, you see your work come to life! “We are building complex projects with many people on insanely tight deadlines. At the …
continue readingBuild California Launches Enhanced Website + Online Store
For Immediate Release February 26, 2020 Build California Launches Enhanced Website & Online Store SACRAMENTO – Today, Build California announced the launch of its enhanced website, buildcalifornia.com. The website, which launched in September 2019, will now host an educator portal, job portal, and online store to help attract a future pipeline of motivated, …
continue readingHow You Can Help Rebuild California
In 2019, families and communities across the state were impacted by wildfires, storms, floods, and countless other natural disasters. According to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, 5,600 wildfires alone burned nearly 130,000 acres of land. As a result, residents throughout California have been displaced and are starting …
continue readingQ&A on Construction Tech with Procore’s Miles Anderson
All month long, we've been sharing information on how technology and construction go hand in hand to make the building process safer and more efficient. Today, we get to dive deeper into this topic with the help of Miles Anderson, manager at Procore.org, an organization that creates continuing education courses …
continue readingTop 5 Tech-Related Jobs in Construction
The construction industry is constantly evolving. If you're into gaming, website development, robotics, and new gadgets, you'll be thrilled to know construction and technology go hand-in-hand. The latest developments in everything from power tools and heavy equipment to software, mobile apps, drones, and virtual reality make building safer, efficient, and …
continue readingTogether, We Are Building Something Awesome
Build California is a comprehensive and innovative statewide effort to inspire a new generation of construction professionals led by Associated General Contractors of California (AGC CA) through the AGC Construction Education Foundation (AGC CEF). To successfully launch this effort, AGC CA and AGC CEF joined forces with a coalition of organizations …
continue reading5 Reasons to Join the Construction Industry
California’s construction industry is thriving! Whether you’re college-bound or looking for opportunities to start working right after high school, this inclusive, dynamic industry has a fulfilling career path that’s perfect for you. Need more convincing? No problem. We get it. Top 5 Reasons to Join the Construction Industry #1. Jobs! Whether you aspire to …
continue readingWe Build California!
Only 9 percent of Generation Z is interested in a future in construction.* It’s up to us, the industry, that quite literally builds our state, to change that number and transform our future. Now’s our chance. Together we are going to change hearts and minds, redefine our industry, and invest in California’s …
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