North Carolina
Operating Engineer programs in North Carolina
3 listed heavy equipment operator programs in North Carolina, plus BLS pay data for the state and 16 metro areas.
- $52,310Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $39,050Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $49,310Median pay (state)
- $64,450Top 10% earn over
16,580 jobs in North Carolina · 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 North Carolina
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $39,050 | $45,700 | $49,310 | $57,870 | $64,450 | $52,310 | 16,580 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,500 | $47,870 | $52,060 | $61,100 | $73,700 | $55,080 | 2,150 |
| Burlington, NC | $40,060 | $46,180 | $51,570 | $54,350 | $61,980 | $51,740 | 200 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $40,540 | $47,950 | $51,110 | $59,690 | $65,970 | $54,460 | 3,080 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $41,970 | $47,710 | $50,870 | $59,230 | $70,400 | $55,090 | 4,440 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $39,690 | $47,030 | $50,820 | $61,610 | $71,240 | $55,020 | 480 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $38,820 | $43,670 | $50,210 | $57,330 | $60,470 | $50,690 | 90 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $39,050 | $44,800 | $49,310 | $53,300 | $62,800 | $51,270 | 1,080 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $37,420 | $43,340 | $48,640 | $54,210 | $58,250 | $49,750 | 170 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $39,900 | $45,750 | $48,390 | $59,210 | $66,580 | $52,230 | 440 |
| Asheville, NC | $39,420 | $45,370 | $47,970 | $51,770 | $61,430 | $50,070 | 510 |
| Greenville, NC | $38,310 | $43,610 | $47,940 | $56,230 | $65,500 | $51,010 | 210 |
| Wilmington, NC | $37,300 | $44,830 | $47,910 | $56,420 | $62,050 | $49,990 | 790 |
Programs
Listed programs in North Carolina
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in North Carolina. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanly Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Albemarle, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 1 | $2,681–$8,825 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Stanly Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Albemarle, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 1 | $2,681–$8,825 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| IUOE Local 465 | Durham, NC | 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 North CarolinaThe 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.