Find A Heavy Equipment Operator School Near You

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Are you ready to move some earth and take on the world of heavy equipment operation?

Well, strap on your hard hat and grab your favorite pair of work boots, because we’re about to take a wild ride and show you some of the best heavy equipment operator schools across the United States.

From bulldozers to excavators, these schools will teach you how to operate the big machines that keep the world moving.

And let’s be real, who doesn’t want to be in control of a giant metal beast?

But don’t worry, we won’t leave you stranded in the middle of a construction site without any guidance.

In this article, we’ll not only share some great trade schools for your new passion, but offer tips on how to choose the best school for you.

So, let’s dig in and uncover the world of heavy equipment operation (pun intended).

big equipment operators at work

Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools

All of the schools below offer a variety of programs featuring all different types of heavy equipment. There are all less than 2 years, with some even being just a few weeks!

Use our filter to find your state and get started on your research to find the perfect school for you.

Filter Schools by State:
 
           
       

San Joaquin Delta College

Address: 5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton, California 95207
Enrollment: 16640
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 30%
Average Net Price: $17,503.00
       
       

Lincoln College of Technology

Address: 11194 E 45th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80239
Enrollment: 1551
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 63%
Average Net Price: $38,374.00
       
       

Northeastern Junior College

Address: 100 College Avenue, Sterling, Colorado 80751-2944
Website: www.njc.edu/
Enrollment: 1392
Housing: Yes
Graduation Rate: 52%
Average Net Price: $12,929.00
       
       

Lively Technical College

Address: 500 N Appleyard Dr, Tallahassee, Florida 32304-2895
Enrollment: 1468
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 48%
Average Net Price: $12,351.00
       
       

First Coast Technical College

Address: 2980 Collins Ave, Saint Augustine, Florida 32084-1919
Website: fctc.edu/
Enrollment: 379
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 91%
Average Net Price: $19,231.00
       
       

Lake Technical College

Address: 2001 Kurt Street, Eustis, Florida 32726
Enrollment: 692
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 79%
Average Net Price: $11,817.00
       
       

Immokalee Technical College

Address: 508 N 9th St, Immokalee, Florida 34142
Enrollment: 373
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 81%
Average Net Price: $2,143.00
       
       

North Georgia Technical College

Address: 1500 Georgia Hwy 197 N, Clarkesville, Georgia 30523
Enrollment: 2,660
Housing: Yes
Graduation Rate: 39%
Average Net Price: $5,401
Job Placement: Yes
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. – May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
       
       

Georgia Piedmont Technical College

Address: 495 N Indian Creek Dr, Clarkston, Georgia 30021-2397
Website: www.gptc.edu/
Enrollment: 2577
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 40%
Average Net Price: $9,158.00
       
       

Atlanta Technical College

Address: 1560 Metropolitan Pkwy SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30310-4446
Enrollment: 3383
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 44%
Average Net Price: NA
       
       

Ogeechee Technical College

Address: One Joseph E. Kennedy Blvd, Statesboro, Georgia 30458
Enrollment: 2167
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 56%
Average Net Price: $5,451.00
       
       

Southeastern Technical College

Address: 3001 E First St, Vidalia, Georgia 30474
Enrollment: 1673
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 45%
Average Net Price: $6,406.00
       
       

Athens Technical College

Address: 800 U.S. Hwy 29 North, Athens, Georgia 30601
Enrollment: 3943
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 46%
Average Net Price: $6,410.00
       
       

Oconee Fall Line Technical College

Address: 1189 Deepstep Rd, Sandersville, Georgia 31082
Website: www.oftc.edu/
Enrollment: 1705
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 54%
Average Net Price: $3,826.00
       
       

Coastal Pines Technical College

Address: 1701 Carswell Ave, Waycross, Georgia 31503
Enrollment: 4021
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 47%
Average Net Price: $2,331.00
       
       

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Address: 4089 Val Tech Rd, Valdosta, Georgia 31602-0929
Enrollment: 3567
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 33%
Average Net Price: $6,030.00
       
       

Albany Technical College

Address: 1704 South Slappey Boulevard, Albany, Georgia 31701
Enrollment: 2370
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 40%
Average Net Price: $7,844.00
       
       

Columbus Technical College

Address: 928 Manchester Expy, Columbus, Georgia 31904-6572
Enrollment: 2927
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 22%
Average Net Price: $6,368.00
       
       

Washburn Institute of Technology

Address: 5724 SW Huntoon, Topeka, Kansas 66604-2117
Enrollment: 1233
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 59%
Average Net Price: $12,807.00
       
       

Anoka Technical College

Address: 1355 Highway 10 West, Anoka, Minnesota 55303
Enrollment: 1690
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 46%
Average Net Price: $12,407.00
       
       

State Technical College of Missouri

Address: One Technology Drive, Linn, Missouri 65051-9607
Enrollment: 1855
Housing: Yes
Graduation Rate: 74%
Average Net Price: $7,361.00
       
       

Williston State College

Address: 1410 University Avenue, Williston, North Dakota 58801
Enrollment: 908
Housing: Yes
Graduation Rate: 41%
Average Net Price: $9,477.00
       
       

Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center

Address: 1783 State Route 60, Ashland, Ohio 44805-9377
Enrollment: 47
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 77%
Average Net Price: NA
       
       

Canadian Valley Technology Center

Address: 6505 E Hwy 66, El Reno, Oklahoma 73036-9117
Enrollment: 1473
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 45%
Average Net Price: $1,898.00
       
       

Tulsa Technology Center

Address: 3420 S Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145
Enrollment: 3980
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 72%
Average Net Price: $10,490.00
       
       

Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee

Address: 2403 N 41st St E, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74403-1889
Enrollment: 1571
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 98%
Average Net Price: $8,432.00
       
       

Gordon Cooper Technology Center

Address: 1 John C Bruton Blvd, Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804
Enrollment: 861
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 70%
Average Net Price: $4,974.00
       
       

Mid-America Technology Center

Address: 27438 State Hwy 59, Wayne, Oklahoma 73095-0210
Enrollment: 933
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 86%
Average Net Price: $2,714.00
       
       

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Address: 12777 N Rockwell Ave, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142-2789
Enrollment: 2224
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 27%
Average Net Price: $5,874.00
       
       

Southern Oklahoma Technology Center

Address: 2610 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401
Enrollment: 633
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 33%
Average Net Price: $1,378.00
       
       

Western Technology Center

Address: 621 Sooner Drive, Burns Flat, Oklahoma 73624-1469
Enrollment: 498
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 83%
Average Net Price: $12,056.00
       
       

Central Technology Center

Address: 3 CT Circle, Drumright, Oklahoma 74030
Enrollment: 1122
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 56%
Average Net Price: $2,265.00
       
       

Northeast Technology Center

Address: 511 S Elliott St, Pryor, Oklahoma 74361
Enrollment: 1039
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 67%
Average Net Price: $6,867.00
       
       

Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester

Address: 301 Kiamichi Dr, McAlester, Oklahoma 74501
Website: www.ktc.edu/
Enrollment: 538
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 40%
Average Net Price: $5,584.00
       
       

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology

Address: 540 N Harrison Rd, Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania 16823
Website: www.cpi.edu/
Enrollment: 168
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 82%
Average Net Price: $6,966.00
       
       

Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School

Address: 833 Metro Dr, Lebanon, Pennsylvania 17042
Enrollment: 111
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 68%
Average Net Price: $22,757.00
       
       

Berks Career & Technology Center

Address: 1057 County Road, Leesport, Pennsylvania 19533-9112
Enrollment: 51
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 84%
Average Net Price: $18,798.00
       
       

Lake Area Technical College

Address: 1201 Arrow Avenue, Watertown, South Dakota 57201-0730
Enrollment: 2190
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 74%
Average Net Price: $13,069.00
       
       

Lincoln Technical Institute

Address:
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $31,847.00

Details:

Lincoln Technical Institute has campuses across the United States. Each location offers different programs, so be sure to check the location to make sure the program is available at the location you are interested in.

       
       

Advanced Technology Institute

Address: 5700 Southern Blvd Ste 100, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
Website: auto.edu/
Enrollment: 466
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 72%
Average Net Price: $18,970.00
       
       

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Address: 2740 W Mason St, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54307-9042
Website: www.nwtc.edu/
Enrollment: 10,763
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 54%
Average Net Price: $10,194
Job Placement: Yes
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
       
       

Blackhawk Technical College

Address: 6004 South County Road G, Janesville, Wisconsin 53547-5009
Enrollment: 2424
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 35%
Average Net Price: $9,650.00
       
       

Mid-State Technical College

Address: 500 32nd St N, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin 54494
Website: www.mstc.edu/
Enrollment: 3006
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 46%
Average Net Price: $9,316.00
       
       

Northwood Technical College

Address: 505 Pine Ridge Drive, Shell Lake, Wisconsin 54871-8727
Enrollment: 2656
Housing: No
Graduation Rate: 58%
Average Net Price: $11,008.00
       
       

Wind River Job Corps Center

Address: 4200 Airport Rd Riverton, WY 82501-8200
Housing: No

Heavy Equipment Operator Salaries

The salaries of heavy equipment operators can vary as much as the terrains they work on.

There are many factors that can impact an operator’s earning potential.

  • Location is one of the biggest factors, operators in urban areas tend to make more than those in rural areas.
  • Education and experience also play a significant role.
  • Type of truck or equipment operated can also affect salary. More complex machines may require more skill and knowledge, leading to higher pay.
  • Industries like mining and oil and gas extraction tend to pay higher salaries due to the hazardous and specialized nature of the work.

It’s important to consider these factors when choosing a career path or looking for new job opportunities.

So, keep on truckin’ and let’s see what kind of terrain you can conquer!

Lowest 10% Wages:
$36,900
US Median Salary:
$53,770
Highest 90% Wages:
$78,280

Choosing A Heavy Equipment Operator School

Choosing the right heavy equipment operator school can seem overwhelming, but don’t let it dig you into a hole.

When considering your options, it’s important to look at several factors to ensure you get the best education possible.

  • Is the school located somewhere convenient for you?
  • Is the tuition within a comfortable range or due they offer any financial aid?
  • Are there other expenses like textbooks or equipment.
  • Is the school accredited or have excellent reviews? You can check places like Quora or Reddit to see what others say about the school.
  • How many types of trucks and equipment do they have on campus for training?
  • Do they offer job placement?
  • Is it a mix of classroom and hands-on training or only on or the other?

We always highly recommend you contact any schools you may be interested in. This will help you understand how helpful and responsive they are!

So, start revving those engines and get ready to pave the way for a successful career in heavy equipment operation!