Pennsylvania
Operating Engineer programs in Pennsylvania
13 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Pennsylvania, plus BLS pay data for the state and 16 metro areas.
- $65,920Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $46,780Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $60,530Median pay (state)
- $94,930Top 10% earn over
22,120 jobs in Pennsylvania · 13 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 Pennsylvania
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $46,780 | $50,790 | $60,530 | $77,780 | $94,930 | $65,920 | 22,120 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48,780 | $56,410 | $66,810 | $92,410 | $113,310 | $75,200 | 5,620 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,220 | $52,960 | $63,050 | $76,020 | $93,730 | $66,920 | 920 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $47,480 | $50,790 | $62,320 | $80,390 | $94,570 | $68,670 | 5,050 |
| Reading, PA | $45,850 | $51,370 | $62,290 | $76,530 | $93,440 | $67,530 | 590 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $46,920 | $52,960 | $61,870 | $74,880 | $89,900 | $65,700 | 790 |
| Lancaster, PA | $46,120 | $50,790 | $61,340 | $73,880 | $94,390 | $63,550 | 1,010 |
| State College, PA | $37,260 | $50,790 | $60,540 | $78,090 | $97,690 | $67,740 | 460 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $46,780 | $51,830 | $59,330 | $74,290 | $90,120 | $64,270 | 950 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $45,220 | $50,790 | $58,800 | $62,130 | $74,600 | $58,760 | 280 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $46,780 | $50,910 | $58,420 | $67,100 | $90,500 | $62,450 | 670 |
| Erie, PA | $49,510 | $50,790 | $58,030 | $68,610 | $81,570 | $61,820 | 280 |
| Lebanon, PA | $41,040 | $49,120 | $55,750 | $63,150 | $74,520 | $58,020 | 160 |
Programs
Listed programs in Pennsylvania
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Pennsylvania. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community College of Allegheny County Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Pittsburgh, PA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 101 | $4,962–$12,943 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Douglas Education Center Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Monessen, PA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 3 | $20,050 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Johnstown, PA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 15 | $22,750 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Lehigh Career & Technical Institute Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Schnecksville, PA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 4 | $15,285 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Williamsport, PA | Associate degree | 17 | $18,690–$26,640 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Schuylkill Technology Center Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Frackville, PA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $22,605 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| International Union of Operating Engineers | Pittsburgh, PA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| IUOE Local 835 | Drexel Hill, PA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| IUOE Local 95 | Pittsburgh, PA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Local 542 - Operating Engineers | Fort Washington, PA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| (pitts) Western PA Operating Engineers | New Alexandria, PA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| (pitts) Western PA Operating Engineers Mechanics | New Alexandria, PA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Ft. Washington Operating Engineers | Fort Washington, PA | 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 PennsylvaniaThe 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.