Iowa
Operating Engineer programs in Iowa
3 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Iowa, plus BLS pay data for the state and 9 metro areas.
- $63,770Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $46,690Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $60,330Median pay (state)
- $87,460Top 10% earn over
5,530 jobs in Iowa · 3 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
BLS wage data
Operating Engineer pay in Iowa
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $46,690 | $53,610 | $60,330 | $72,660 | $87,460 | $63,770 | 5,530 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $55,130 | $61,740 | $97,770 | $97,770 | $97,770 | $82,640 | 420 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42,910 | $53,470 | $64,850 | $85,210 | $97,050 | $68,940 | 570 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $49,430 | $58,240 | $63,310 | $73,420 | $86,720 | $65,400 | 490 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $46,710 | $58,290 | $62,610 | $78,250 | $82,970 | $66,340 | 1,260 |
| Ames, IA | $48,490 | $55,690 | $62,400 | $66,050 | $80,640 | $62,770 | 190 |
| Dubuque, IA | $48,660 | $56,000 | $62,250 | $73,880 | $91,490 | $64,840 | 160 |
| Iowa City, IA | $49,990 | $56,620 | $60,530 | $71,010 | $79,080 | $63,080 | 210 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $46,870 | $50,200 | $60,020 | $65,600 | $77,920 | $61,090 | 1,380 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $46,940 | $51,220 | $59,140 | $63,070 | $73,030 | $59,840 | 200 |
Programs
Listed programs in Iowa
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Iowa. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Iowa Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Sheldon, IA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 11 | $7,500–$7,800 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Sheldon, IA | Associate degree | 0 | $7,500–$7,800 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Operating Engineers LU 234 | Indianola, IA | 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 IowaThe 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.