Washington
Operating Engineer programs in Washington
4 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Washington, plus BLS pay data for the state and 13 metro areas.
- $88,290Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $57,200Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $81,700Median pay (state)
- $125,490Top 10% earn over
10,290 jobs in Washington · 4 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 Washington
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $57,200 | $64,390 | $81,700 | $114,640 | $125,490 | $88,290 | 10,290 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $53,680 | $69,620 | $103,060 | $113,800 | $123,280 | $92,780 | 260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $59,830 | $75,150 | $95,750 | $122,260 | $128,420 | $96,510 | 4,860 |
| Bellingham, WA | $61,450 | $77,880 | $91,510 | $115,350 | $127,010 | $95,710 | 400 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $53,760 | $66,060 | $89,460 | $105,330 | $118,110 | $88,060 | 240 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $60,990 | $66,220 | $85,390 | $119,950 | $124,370 | $93,960 | 180 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $59,880 | $69,740 | $79,850 | $101,530 | $122,580 | $86,880 | 460 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,520 | $65,250 | $79,040 | $104,200 | $123,290 | $85,450 | 3,040 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $58,390 | $64,430 | $77,780 | $93,410 | $121,610 | $84,960 | 180 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $52,110 | $61,060 | $74,360 | $87,660 | $107,640 | $77,290 | 700 |
| Yakima, WA | $52,230 | $61,190 | $71,810 | $81,970 | $104,800 | $74,660 | 190 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $54,080 | $61,010 | $67,750 | $73,130 | $83,360 | $69,160 | 50 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $52,480 | $60,150 | $64,150 | $80,770 | $107,680 | $73,430 | 190 |
Programs
Listed programs in Washington
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Washington. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Industry Training Council of Washington - Construction Equipment Operator | Bellevue, WA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| International Union of Operating Engineers Local #280 Apprenticeship Committee | Richland, WA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Operating Engineers Regional Training Program JATC | Ellensburg, WA | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship |
| Western Washington Operating Engineers Facilities Custodial Services Apprenticeship Committee | Auburn, WA | 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 WashingtonThe 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.