Montana
Operating Engineer programs in Montana
5 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Montana, plus BLS pay data for the state and 5 metro areas.
- $63,350Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $48,130Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $61,580Median pay (state)
- $79,880Top 10% earn over
3,750 jobs in Montana · 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
BLS wage data
Operating Engineer pay in Montana
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $48,130 | $56,310 | $61,580 | $72,130 | $79,880 | $63,350 | 3,750 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $54,180 | $61,380 | $68,160 | $78,380 | $84,740 | $69,520 | 530 |
| Missoula, MT | $47,040 | $57,930 | $64,050 | $71,750 | $79,210 | $63,900 | 310 |
| Helena, MT | $47,520 | $59,590 | $62,570 | $65,350 | $80,280 | $63,460 | 220 |
| Great Falls, MT | $49,830 | $50,190 | $62,090 | $75,720 | $87,090 | $65,150 | 170 |
| Billings, MT | $49,870 | $59,060 | $61,990 | $72,490 | $79,340 | $64,560 | 540 |
Programs
Listed programs in Montana
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Montana. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Valley Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Kalispell, MT | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 7 | $5,024–$11,973 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Miles Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Miles City, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $6,090–$12,120 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Salish Kootenai College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Pablo, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 7 | $4,485–$12,117 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| The University of Montana Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Missoula, MT | Certificate (1-2 years) | 6 | $9,188–$34,312 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Montana Operating Engineers AGCJATT Local 400 | East Helena, MT | 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 MontanaThe 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.