--- title: "Operating Engineer Programs in Arkansas: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/arkansas/ description: "Operating Engineer pay in Arkansas: BLS average $45,890 (all experience levels), median $44,520, bottom 10% $35,520. 5 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Operating Engineer](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/) 4. Arkansas Arkansas # Operating Engineer programs in *Arkansas* 5 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Arkansas, plus BLS pay data for the state and 7 metro areas. - **$45,890** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$35,520** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$44,520** Median pay (state) - **$58,670** Top 10% earn over 5,800 jobs in Arkansas · 5 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Cities with listed programs - [Batesville 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/arkansas/batesville/) - [Harrison 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/arkansas/harrison/) BLS wage data ## Operating Engineer pay in Arkansas Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Arkansas | $35,520 | $38,350 | $44,520 | $49,860 | $58,670 | $45,890 | 5,800 | | United States | $42,190 | $48,680 | $59,850 | $77,170 | $101,090 | $66,290 | 478,090 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $40,560 | $45,510 | $53,870 | $62,150 | $72,790 | $55,080 | 1,140 | | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $38,550 | $44,010 | $50,090 | $53,630 | $60,010 | $49,960 | 900 | | Texarkana, TX-AR | $38,010 | $39,360 | $46,800 | $53,730 | $61,060 | $48,560 | 280 | | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $37,800 | $40,420 | $46,290 | $49,820 | $58,770 | $47,100 | 1,230 | | Jonesboro, AR | $31,260 | $37,910 | $45,590 | $48,090 | $56,220 | $45,090 | 240 | | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $35,480 | $37,750 | $41,820 | $43,940 | $49,170 | $42,260 | 440 | | Hot Springs, AR | $29,870 | $29,870 | $37,760 | $46,720 | $54,470 | $39,490 | 250 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in Arkansas Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Arkansas. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [North Arkansas College](https://www.northark.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Harrison, AR | Certificate (1-2 years) | 5 | $3,840–$6,000 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [North Arkansas College](https://www.northark.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Harrison, AR | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 11 | $3,840–$6,000 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville](https://www.uaccb.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Batesville, AR | Certificate (1-2 years) | 3 | $3,750–$4,830 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville](https://www.uaccb.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Batesville, AR | Certificate (under 12 weeks) | 13 | $3,750–$4,830 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville](https://www.uaccb.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Batesville, AR | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $3,750–$4,830 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. ### Browse by city - [Batesville 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/arkansas/batesville/) - [Harrison 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/arkansas/harrison/) Related resources ## Keep researching [**GI Bill heavy equipment operator schools** Schools approved for VA benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/heavy-equipment-operator/) [**Verified CDL training schools** Many equipment jobs also involve hauling machines; compare CDL programs. · VerifiedCDLSchools.com](https://verifiedcdlschools.com/) [**Registered apprenticeships in Arkansas** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ar/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [47-2073.00 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2073.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/arkansas/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.