Skilled Trades
Heavy Equipment Operator
Operate cranes, bulldozers, excavators on construction sites. Crane operators in HCOL cities clear $100k+.
no-degree-requiredpaid-traininghands-on
Salary progression
What you'll earn over your career
$45k
$62k
$95k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+4%
+4% (Average)
Open positions
33,000
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths
How to get here
Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.
Fastest ROI
Apprenticeship In Person
IUOE Apprenticeship
Time
3–4 years (paid)
Cost
Paid / Free
Paid apprenticeship with union benefits.
Trade School In Person
Equipment Operator Certificate
Time
3–9 months
Cost
$3,500 – $15,000
Top programs
Faster entry but no union benefits.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Attainability breakdown
What are the odds
you actually get there?
Six factors weighted to estimate the realistic probability a motivated person reaches this outcome. Higher = more attainable.
80
Composite
Attainability Score
Editorial estimate
Editorial estimate — based on best-available qualitative info. We're upgrading individual factors to published statistics where available.
- Educational difficultyHow hard the required schooling is to complete9020%
- Licensing & examsPass rates and difficulty of required exams8015%
- Entry-job competitionHow many applicants per open entry-level role8020%
- Career stay-rateInverse of early-career attrition / industry exit7015%
- Market demandOpenings vs available workforce8015%
- Alternative pathsHow many viable ways exist to enter the field7515%
Quick math
If you took the fastest path…
You'd train for
3–4 years (paid)
You'd spend (avg)
Paid / Free
Starting salary
$45,000
Mid-career
$62,000
Read more
Articles & resources
Sources: BLS OOH 2024 · IUOE