APPRENTICESHIP TRADES
Heavy Equipment Operating
Build your career one step at a time.
Apprenticeship Length
3 YEARS
State Skilled Wage Rate Range
$29.93 to $36.61
Per Hour, Plus Benefits*
What You will Do
Operate heavy machinery (such as cranes, bulldozers, excavators and backhoes) used in the construction of
roads, bridges and building site preparation; maintain machinery to keep in proper working order; use critical thinking to understand the project and be able to troubleshoot in a variety of changing environments and terrains.
*Apprentices earn minimum of 60% first year, 65% second year and 70% third year. Benefits, such has health care and retirement, are above and beyond this wage.
CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION
Your Career
Most people don’t realize apprenticeship is a career area with lots of opportunities. Getting into employment earlier means there’s lots of potential for you to progress quickly in your career. After putting your skills into practice, you could become a master craftsperson and/or land a leadership role at your company, such as foreman, crew leader, jobsite superintendent or project manager. Some apprentices start their own businesses or go back to school for a two-year construction management degree at a technical college and then apply that to a four-year building construction management degree at a university. How far you want to go is all up to you.