--- title: "Operating Engineer Programs in Missouri: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/ description: "Operating Engineer pay in Missouri: BLS average $67,960 (all experience levels), median $60,540, bottom 10% $43,290. 4 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. Missouri Missouri # Operating Engineer programs in *Missouri* 4 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Missouri, plus BLS pay data for the state and 8 metro areas. - **$67,960** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$43,290** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$60,540** Median pay (state) - **$94,130** Top 10% earn over 10,470 jobs in Missouri · 4 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 - [Linn 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/linn/) - [Platte City 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/platte-city/) - [Silex 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/silex/) - [St. Louis 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/st-louis/) BLS wage data ## Operating Engineer pay in Missouri 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Missouri | $43,290 | $48,290 | $60,540 | $84,400 | $94,130 | $67,960 | 10,470 | | 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,210 | $58,600 | $82,270 | $94,250 | $100,810 | $77,930 | 4,190 | | Jefferson City, MO | $45,310 | $49,500 | $71,140 | $81,050 | $89,860 | $69,390 | 410 | | Kansas City, MO-KS | $47,250 | $50,580 | $64,060 | $89,580 | $96,840 | $70,930 | 4,110 | | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $41,870 | $48,100 | $62,820 | $82,940 | $92,490 | $67,710 | 390 | | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $38,980 | $48,750 | $61,480 | $80,290 | $89,880 | $64,600 | 130 | | Columbia, MO | $41,790 | $47,430 | $56,770 | $82,050 | $90,730 | $65,630 | 310 | | Springfield, MO | $43,890 | $47,930 | $53,340 | $73,620 | $89,840 | $60,840 | 530 | | Joplin, MO-KS | $38,340 | $43,980 | $53,210 | $76,150 | $80,460 | $58,520 | 330 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in Missouri Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Missouri. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [State Technical College of Missouri](https://www.statetechmo.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Linn, MO | Certificate (1-2 years) | 57 | $8,460–$15,120 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | Operating Engineers Local 101 Apprentice Fund | Platte City, MO | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | Operating Engineers Local 513 JATC | Silex, MO | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | Operating Engineers Local Union 148 and Signatory Contractors JAP | St. Louis, MO | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | 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 - [Linn 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/linn/) - [Platte City 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/platte-city/) - [Silex 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/silex/) - [St. Louis 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/missouri/st-louis/) 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 Missouri** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/mo/) ## 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/missouri/ 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.