--- title: "Operating Engineer Programs in Ohio: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/ description: "Operating Engineer pay in Ohio: BLS average $71,830 (all experience levels), median $64,940, bottom 10% $46,850. 11 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. Ohio Ohio # Operating Engineer programs in *Ohio* 11 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Ohio, plus BLS pay data for the state and 15 metro areas. - **$71,830** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$46,850** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$64,940** Median pay (state) - **$98,100** Top 10% earn over 16,920 jobs in Ohio · 11 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 - [Cleveland 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/cleveland/) - [Nelsonville 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/nelsonville/) - [Cincinnati 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/cincinnati/) - [Columbus 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/columbus/) - [Englewood 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/englewood/) - [Monroe 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/monroe/) - [New Philadelphia 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/new-philadelphia/) - [Rio Grande 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/rio-grande/) BLS wage data ## Operating Engineer pay in Ohio 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Ohio | $46,850 | $54,430 | $64,940 | $92,930 | $98,100 | $71,830 | 16,920 | | 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Columbus, OH | $50,610 | $62,050 | $78,950 | $95,780 | $99,390 | $78,470 | 3,290 | | Cleveland, OH | $48,000 | $57,680 | $71,740 | $94,910 | $99,760 | $74,690 | 2,660 | | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $47,210 | $55,860 | $66,950 | $94,650 | $99,500 | $72,760 | 3,120 | | Mansfield, OH | $45,700 | $49,340 | $66,100 | $84,110 | $92,520 | $67,950 | 190 | | Toledo, OH | $45,950 | $55,880 | $64,380 | $93,530 | $97,580 | $72,190 | 780 | | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $47,270 | $54,000 | $64,050 | $85,200 | $97,770 | $70,020 | 710 | | Akron, OH | $46,700 | $52,870 | $63,920 | $93,500 | $98,500 | $70,690 | 830 | | Sandusky, OH | $46,900 | $54,090 | $60,380 | $93,380 | $94,560 | $70,870 | 240 | | Canton-Massillon, OH | $41,870 | $50,710 | $60,010 | $89,590 | $92,410 | $66,590 | 530 | | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $45,210 | $51,040 | $59,210 | $83,560 | $97,160 | $67,790 | 420 | | Lima, OH | $44,320 | $48,250 | $58,860 | $67,040 | $91,550 | $61,890 | 130 | | Wheeling, WV-OH | $39,020 | $45,670 | $58,250 | $77,160 | $92,420 | $61,920 | 500 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in Ohio Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Ohio. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Buckeye Hills Career Center](https://www.buckeyehills.net/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Rio Grande, OH | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 22 | $15,202 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Buckeye Joint Vocational School](https://www.buckeyecareercenter.org/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | New Philadelphia, OH | Certificate (1-2 years) | 4 | $11,850 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Butler Technology and Career Development Schools](https://www.butlertech.org/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Monroe, OH | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 5 | $10,150 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Cuyahoga Community College District](https://www.tri-c.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Cleveland, OH | Certificate (1-2 years) | 14 | $3,249–$7,249 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Cuyahoga Community College District](https://www.tri-c.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Cleveland, OH | Associate degree | 0 | $3,249–$7,249 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Great Oaks Career Campuses](https://www.greatoaks.com/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Cincinnati, OH | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 9 | $7,800 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Hocking College](https://www.hocking.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Nelsonville, OH | Associate degree | 18 | $5,690–$10,440 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Hocking College](https://www.hocking.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Nelsonville, OH | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 1 | $5,690–$10,440 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Mid-EastCTC-Adult Education](https://adulted.mideastctc.org/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Zanesville, OH | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 15 | $5,500 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Miami Valley Career Technology Center](https://www.mvctc.com/ae) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Englewood, OH | Certificate (1-2 years) | 6 | Contact program | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | Operating Engineers JATC, Ohio | Columbus, OH | 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 - [Cleveland 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/cleveland/) - [Nelsonville 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/nelsonville/) - [Cincinnati 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/cincinnati/) - [Columbus 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/columbus/) - [Englewood 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/englewood/) - [Monroe 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/monroe/) - [New Philadelphia 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/new-philadelphia/) - [Rio Grande 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/rio-grande/) - [Zanesville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/ohio/zanesville/) 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 Ohio** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/oh/) ## 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/ohio/ 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.