--- title: "Operating Engineer Programs in Pennsylvania: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/ description: "Operating Engineer pay in Pennsylvania: BLS average $65,920 (all experience levels), median $60,530, bottom 10% $46,780. 13 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. Pennsylvania 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. - **$65,920** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$46,780** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$60,530** Median pay (state) - **$94,930** Top 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 - [Pittsburgh 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/) - [Fort Washington 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/fort-washington/) - [New Alexandria 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/new-alexandria/) - [Drexel Hill 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/drexel-hill/) - [Frackville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/frackville/) - [Johnstown 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/johnstown/) - [Monessen 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/monessen/) - [Schnecksville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/schnecksville/) 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 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### 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 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. 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](https://www.ccac.edu/) 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](https://www.dec.edu/) 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](https://www.gjctc.org/) 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](https://www.lcti.org/adulted) 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](https://www.pct.edu/) 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](https://www.stcenters.org/) 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 | 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 - [Pittsburgh 3](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/) - [Fort Washington 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/fort-washington/) - [New Alexandria 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/new-alexandria/) - [Drexel Hill 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/drexel-hill/) - [Frackville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/frackville/) - [Johnstown 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/johnstown/) - [Monessen 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/monessen/) - [Schnecksville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/schnecksville/) - [Williamsport 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/pennsylvania/williamsport/) 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 Pennsylvania** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/pa/) ## 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/pennsylvania/ 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.