---
title: "Operating Engineer Programs in Missoula, MT"
canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/montana/missoula/
description: "1 listed heavy equipment operator program in Missoula, MT. Missoula, MT BLS average pay $63,900 (all experience levels), median $64,050."
updated: 2026-11-03
wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15"
---

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5. Missoula
 Missoula, MT

# Operating Engineer programs in *Missoula*

1 listed program in Missoula, with local metro pay data from BLS.

- **$63,900** Average pay (metro, all experience levels)
- **$47,040** Entry-level / bottom 10%
- **$64,050** Median pay (metro)
- **$79,210** Top 10% earn over

1 listed program in Missoula · 5 in Montana. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Pay: Missoula, MT, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.

Programs

## Listed programs in Missoula

| Program / provider | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [The University of Montana](https://www.umt.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | 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 |
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.

BLS wage data

## Operating Engineer pay near Missoula

Metro-area wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.

| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Missoula, MT | $47,040 | $57,930 | $64,050 | $71,750 | $79,210 | $63,900 | 310 |
| 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 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.

[All heavy equipment operator programs in Montana →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/montana/)

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 Montana** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/mt/)

## 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/montana/missoula/
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.