North Dakota
Operating Engineer programs in North Dakota
3 listed heavy equipment operator programs in North Dakota, plus BLS pay data for the state and 4 metro areas.
- $68,640Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $49,840Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $62,150Median pay (state)
- $100,570Top 10% earn over
4,890 jobs in North Dakota · 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 Dakota
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 Dakota | $49,840 | $58,180 | $62,150 | $76,430 | $100,570 | $68,640 | 4,890 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot, ND | $50,990 | $61,150 | $62,990 | $74,050 | $88,570 | $67,900 | 290 |
| Bismarck, ND | $48,030 | $53,400 | $62,150 | $73,110 | $87,290 | $66,120 | 580 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $48,350 | $54,830 | $61,690 | $72,420 | $81,570 | $64,150 | 960 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $49,000 | $58,180 | $61,520 | $73,020 | $95,570 | $66,150 | 370 |
Programs
Listed programs in North Dakota
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in North Dakota. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sitting Bull College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Fort Yates, ND | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 1 | $4,970 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Turtle Mountain Community College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Belcourt, ND | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $2,962 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| United Tribes Technical College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Bismarck, ND | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 11 | $4,632 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
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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 DakotaThe 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.