Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Building Operator in California is $67,540 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.
However, a Building Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered Talent
Building Operator Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $75,567 | $6,297 | $1,453 | $36 |
| Average | $67,540 | $5,628 | $1,299 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,337 | $4,945 | $1,141 | $29 |
Weyerhaeuser - Fontana, CA
Mercy - SPRINGFIELD, MO
SOUTHERN ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC - DURHAM, NC
ABM Industries - SAN DIEGO, CA
A Building Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Building Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Building Operator | $67,540 |
| Intermediate Level Building Operator | $68,367 |
| Senior Level Building Operator | $70,295 |
| Specialist Level Building Operator | $70,681 |
| Expert Level Building Operator | $70,938 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Building Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Building Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Building Operator positions in Retail & Wholesale or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Building Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Utilities | $84,425 | $41.0 | 25% |
| Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit | $74,294 | $36.0 | 10% |
| Construction | $70,917 | $34.0 | 5% |
Understanding how a Building Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $75,567 | $6,297 | $1,453 | $36 |
| Average | $67,540 | $5,628 | $1,299 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,337 | $4,945 | $1,141 | $29 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Building Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
UnitedHealth Group
SEATTLE, WA
UnitedHealth Group | SEATTLE, WA
$6,000 Sign-On Bonus for External Candidates We are hiring for various specialty and primary care departments throughout the Madison Building in Seattle, W... more
6 Days Ago
Park City Municipal Corporation
PARK CITY, UT
Park City Municipal Corporation | PARK CITY, UT
PAY RATE: $25 PER HOUR JOB SUMMARY: Park City Municipal Corporation is developing a comprehensive facility asset-management program to support daily facili... more
12 Days Ago
GardaWorld Security Services U.S.
AUSTIN, TX
GardaWorld Security Services U.S. | AUSTIN, TX
Job Description. GardaWorld Security Services is Now Hiring a Concierge Security Officer. Ready to suit up as a Security Guard in a Concierge post. What ma... more
8 Days Ago
Exelon
CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD
Exelon | CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD
Exelon is seeking a Building Engineer A to support safe, reliable operations across our energy facilities. In this role, you will operate, maintain, and tr... more
6 Days Ago
Exelon
CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD
Exelon | CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD
Exelon is hiring a Lead Building Engineer to oversee operation, maintenance, and optimization of critical building systems supporting a major utility. In t... more
6 Days Ago
REMEDY MEDICAL PROPERTIES
BURNSVILLE, MN
REMEDY MEDICAL PROPERTIES | BURNSVILLE, MN
Senior Building Engineer Burnsville, MN Remedy is an independent, full-service healthcare real estate company providing acquisition, development, leasing, ... more
7 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
