Louisiana
Operating Engineer programs in Louisiana
7 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Louisiana, plus BLS pay data for the state and 10 metro areas.
- $55,380Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $37,440Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $51,700Median pay (state)
- $75,180Top 10% earn over
7,860 jobs in Louisiana · 7 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 Louisiana
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $37,440 | $46,440 | $51,700 | $62,230 | $75,180 | $55,380 | 7,860 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $39,330 | $47,770 | $58,240 | $67,040 | $75,400 | $58,280 | 1,150 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $40,990 | $49,070 | $58,210 | $64,480 | $76,720 | $58,870 | 2,260 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $38,880 | $46,940 | $51,000 | $65,730 | $69,130 | $54,060 | 750 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $39,290 | $47,100 | $50,580 | $66,310 | $97,500 | $58,240 | 250 |
| Hammond, LA | $37,180 | $41,710 | $49,870 | $54,090 | $59,500 | $49,590 | 90 |
| Lafayette, LA | $38,160 | $46,310 | $49,800 | $60,530 | $74,230 | $54,630 | 370 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $35,950 | $44,240 | $49,270 | $60,460 | $76,120 | $54,130 | 410 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $37,270 | $46,290 | $48,990 | $59,220 | $71,120 | $52,950 | 710 |
| Monroe, LA | $30,350 | $36,380 | $46,000 | $53,310 | $66,660 | $47,340 | 230 |
| Alexandria, LA | $30,160 | $35,600 | $44,570 | $52,150 | $65,920 | $46,160 | 260 |
Programs
Listed programs in Louisiana
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Louisiana. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Alexandria, LA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $4,098 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Louisiana Delta Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Monroe, LA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $4,159 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Louisiana Delta Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Monroe, LA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $4,159 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Minden, LA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $4,109 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Minden, LA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 99 | $4,109 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| South Louisiana Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Lafayette, LA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $4,210 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Operating Engineers JATC | Loranger, LA | 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 LouisianaThe 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.