Learns to run heavy equipment through training-center practice and real job sites.
You spend weeks at a training center digging practice trenches, then join a crew as a greaser and operate under a journeyman.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma plus driver's license; apply to an IUOE apprenticeship. Paid while learning.
Ways in: Apprenticeship. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Operating Engineers Apprenticeship.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Apprentices learn on real machines; growing automation may mean fewer but more technical operator openings by 2036.
Classes: Auto or diesel CTE, Geometry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 47-2073.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.