Wisconsin
Operating Engineer programs in Wisconsin
6 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Wisconsin, plus BLS pay data for the state and 15 metro areas.
- $77,770Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- $51,370Entry-level / bottom 10%
- $75,280Median pay (state)
- $100,140Top 10% earn over
8,140 jobs in Wisconsin · 6 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 Wisconsin
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $51,370 | $61,520 | $75,280 | $94,610 | $100,140 | $77,770 | 8,140 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WI | $49,830 | $64,350 | $90,900 | $94,680 | $96,020 | $79,550 | 200 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $63,580 | $69,200 | $90,320 | $93,200 | $98,380 | $83,110 | 280 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $60,100 | $69,990 | $83,340 | $100,820 | $104,250 | $84,200 | 4,270 |
| Madison, WI | $58,830 | $65,830 | $83,060 | $98,720 | $102,450 | $82,780 | 680 |
| Appleton, WI | $57,520 | $67,580 | $83,010 | $95,210 | $99,330 | $81,940 | 480 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,390 | $64,310 | $79,430 | $95,310 | $100,860 | $82,100 | 2,070 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $54,060 | $61,900 | $77,020 | $92,990 | $98,330 | $79,420 | 150 |
| Green Bay, WI | $52,560 | $60,990 | $76,290 | $94,960 | $115,070 | $79,160 | 420 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $55,570 | $61,920 | $75,970 | $93,870 | $97,080 | $76,960 | 260 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $47,790 | $62,170 | $75,040 | $83,790 | $95,140 | $73,300 | 770 |
| Kenosha, WI | $58,790 | $61,820 | $73,190 | $95,230 | $97,360 | $76,980 | 120 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $49,460 | $59,580 | $71,560 | $89,810 | $94,750 | $72,860 | 160 |
Programs
Listed programs in Wisconsin
Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Wisconsin. Schools with published tuition are listed first.
| Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Valley Technical College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Eau Claire, WI | Certificate (under 12 weeks) | 0 | $4,953–$7,245 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Fox Valley Technical College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Appleton, WI | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 32 | $4,980–$7,269 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Mid-State Technical College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $4,828–$6,900 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Nicolet Area Technical College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Rhinelander, WI | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 16 | $4,951–$5,841 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Northwood Technical College Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Rice Lake, WI | Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | $5,044–$7,336 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 |
| Wisconsin Operating Engineers JAC | Coloma, WI | 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 WisconsinThe 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.