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Skilled Trades

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

Median salary (BLS)

$59,850

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$42k – $101k

Job outlook

+4% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Entry / Junior

    $42,190

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Established

    $59,850

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Senior

    $80,470

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Learn and follow safety regulations.
  • •Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
  • •Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
  • •Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
  • •Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.