Communications Equipment Operators, All Other Salary
Communications Equipment Operators, All Others in California make a median of $79,450 a year, or about $38.2 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $74,854 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 47.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in California?
About communications equipment operators, all others
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for communications equipment operators, all other, local pay runs about 45% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 48.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level communications equipment operators, all others (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Communications Equipment Operators, All Other salary by metro in California
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $61K | -24% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track communications equipment operators, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a communications equipment operators, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 48.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for communications equipment operators, all others in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new communications equipment operators, all others typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,780/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 89% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is communications equipment operators, all other a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 45% above the national median — $79K here vs. $55K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for communications equipment operators, all others?
California pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +45%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do communications equipment operators, all others make in California?
The median is $79,450 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,330, and experienced communications equipment operators, all others can clear $103,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,063/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 48.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a communications equipment operators, all other salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median communications equipment operators, all other salary is worth about $74,854 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do communications equipment operators, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.