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APPRENTICESHIP TRADES

Heavy Equipment Operating

Build your career one step at a time.

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Apprenticeship Length

3 YEARS

Heavy Equipment Icon

State Skilled Wage Rate Range

$34.00 to $39.97

Per Hour, Plus Benefits*

SCHOOL LOCATION

NATC: Madison/Rhinelander (block class)

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heavy equipment operating application requirements

Completion of the Online Apprenticeship Application and include the following: 

  • High school verification:
    • Transcripts with graduation date listed, or
    • Copy of high school diploma, or
    • GED/HSED certificate, or
    • Graduating senior: current transcript with verification from your school that you are on track for graduation, or
    • Homeschool PI – 1206 form verification for each year completed
  • Copy of driver’s license or have another transportation plan to get to work and school

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
The word "Blueprint"

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.