--- title: "Operating Engineer Programs in Wisconsin: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/ description: "Operating Engineer pay in Wisconsin: BLS average $77,770 (all experience levels), median $75,280, bottom 10% $51,370. 6 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. Wisconsin 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. - **$77,770** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$51,370** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$75,280** Median pay (state) - **$100,140** Top 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 - [Appleton 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/appleton/) - [Coloma 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/coloma/) - [Eau Claire 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/eau-claire/) - [Rhinelander 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/rhinelander/) - [Rice Lake 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/rice-lake/) - [Wisconsin Rapids 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/wisconsin-rapids/) 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 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### 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 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. 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](https://www.cvtc.edu/) 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](https://www.fvtc.edu/) 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](https://www.mstc.edu/) 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](https://www.nicoletcollege.edu/) 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](https://www.northwoodtech.edu/) 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 | 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 - [Appleton 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/appleton/) - [Coloma 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/coloma/) - [Eau Claire 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/eau-claire/) - [Rhinelander 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/rhinelander/) - [Rice Lake 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/rice-lake/) - [Wisconsin Rapids 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/wisconsin/wisconsin-rapids/) 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 Wisconsin** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/wi/) ## 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/wisconsin/ 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.