Colorado
Operating Engineer programs in Colorado
2 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Colorado, plus BLS pay data for the state and 7 metro areas.
- $64,550Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $49,480Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $62,620Median pay (state)
- $78,870Top 10% earn over
11,700 jobs in Colorado · 2 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.
BLS wage data
Operating Engineer pay in Colorado
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $49,480 | $57,700 | $62,620 | $73,670 | $78,870 | $64,550 | 11,700 |
| United States | $42,190 | $48,680 | $59,850 | $77,170 | $101,090 | $66,290 | 478,090 |
Metro areas
| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $50,440 | $61,380 | $71,060 | $79,820 | $93,370 | $70,760 | 190 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $51,030 | $61,010 | $64,650 | $74,140 | $78,110 | $65,940 | 600 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $52,470 | $60,990 | $64,080 | $76,080 | $79,900 | $67,120 | 5,150 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $49,390 | $52,800 | $61,660 | $72,190 | $77,740 | $62,850 | 1,030 |
| Pueblo, CO | $47,380 | $54,170 | $61,130 | $74,820 | $74,820 | $62,310 | 310 |
| Greeley, CO | $50,020 | $55,210 | $60,690 | $62,940 | $73,640 | $60,600 | 1,550 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $47,630 | $49,000 | $57,700 | $62,470 | $71,070 | $57,320 | 390 |
Programs
Listed programs in Colorado
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Colorado. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IUOE Local No. 9 Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee | Bennett, CO | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| King Soopers Bakery IUOE Local 1 JATC | Denver, CO | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
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Related resources
Keep researching
GI Bill heavy equipment operator schoolsSchools approved for VA benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.comVerified CDL training schoolsMany equipment jobs also involve hauling machines; compare CDL programs. · VerifiedCDLSchools.comRegistered apprenticeships in ColoradoThe full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com
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; data tables). 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, 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).
- 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; CIP-SOC crosswalk).
- 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).
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.