--- title: "Operating Engineer Programs in Washington: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/ description: "Operating Engineer pay in Washington: BLS average $88,290 (all experience levels), median $81,700, bottom 10% $57,200. 4 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. Washington 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. - **$88,290** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$57,200** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$81,700** Median pay (state) - **$125,490** Top 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 - [Auburn 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/auburn/) - [Bellevue 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/bellevue/) - [Ellensburg 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/ellensburg/) - [Richland 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/richland/) 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 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### 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 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. 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 | 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 - [Auburn 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/auburn/) - [Bellevue 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/bellevue/) - [Ellensburg 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/ellensburg/) - [Richland 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/washington/richland/) 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 Washington** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/wa/) ## 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/washington/ 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.