Texas
Operating Engineer programs in Texas
5 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Texas, plus BLS pay data for the state and 26 metro areas.
- $53,740Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $38,900Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $50,460Median pay (state)
- $70,010Top 10% earn over
55,540 jobs in Texas · 5 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 Texas
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $38,900 | $46,120 | $50,460 | $59,990 | $70,010 | $53,740 | 55,540 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $46,010 | $49,720 | $57,900 | $62,600 | $77,100 | $58,070 | 1,150 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $39,430 | $46,660 | $56,850 | $60,850 | $75,830 | $56,690 | 1,120 |
| Odessa, TX | $43,490 | $48,110 | $55,430 | $61,640 | $73,010 | $57,120 | 670 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $40,310 | $43,930 | $53,380 | $62,380 | $72,550 | $54,270 | 180 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $41,700 | $47,730 | $51,370 | $60,400 | $71,080 | $55,140 | 11,510 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $39,170 | $46,810 | $51,040 | $61,900 | $71,960 | $55,410 | 14,000 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $40,420 | $48,020 | $50,960 | $61,120 | $71,390 | $54,790 | 5,010 |
| Abilene, TX | $36,920 | $43,830 | $49,500 | $59,790 | $62,400 | $51,290 | 230 |
| Amarillo, TX | $38,830 | $44,540 | $48,850 | $59,760 | $67,550 | $52,460 | 490 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $39,840 | $46,070 | $48,750 | $58,830 | $70,040 | $52,990 | 3,980 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $38,420 | $46,020 | $48,320 | $58,500 | $67,010 | $53,110 | 1,160 |
| San Angelo, TX | $36,090 | $37,260 | $48,120 | $57,960 | $64,100 | $49,580 | 210 |
Programs
Listed programs in Texas
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Texas. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Bend College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Beeville, TX | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 30 | $2,916–$5,226 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| International Union of Operating Engineers ITEC | Crosby, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| IUOE Local 178 Jat | Fort Worth, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| IUOE Local Union 450 Apprenticeship and Training Fund | Texas City, TX | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| IUOE LU 450 Apprenticeship and Training Fund | Dayton, TX | 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 TexasThe 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.