Construction & transport
Construction equipment operator
Operate equipment used to move materials, shape land and support construction.
BLS · May 2025
EDUCATION & ENTRY
Supervised training and experience
Compare employer training, registered apprenticeships and introductory equipment courses. A short course is a starting point; safe operation and employer authorization depend on equipment-specific practice and requirements.
The state’s typical entry education classification is “High school diploma or equivalent.” This describes the occupation broadly; employers, programs and licensing bodies set specific requirements.
CONNECT THE CAREER TO A PLACE TO LEARN
Oregon training options
These are related routes to investigate. Confirm the full preparation, current admissions and eligibility for your intended role with the provider.
Baker Technical Institute
Heavy Equipment Operator — Level One
Explore heavy-equipment operation through introductory simulator and field practice.
Ask: What can a beginner reasonably operate after this course, and what further supervised experience would I need?
Program page reviewed September 15, 2026
Take this question to a counselor.
Do I enjoy machinery, changing worksites and sustained attention to people around heavy equipment?
Before choosing a program, ask for prerequisites, the complete timeline, class and placement schedules, and a full cost estimate including supplies, exams, travel and living expenses.
Build a working cost estimate →Understand the numbers.
The median is the midpoint of estimated wages for Oregon workers in this occupation. The hourly median is $35.30. These figures describe workers across experience levels; they are not starting pay or the earnings of graduates from the programs below.
Oregon projects employment moving from 5,654 jobs in 2024 to 6,071 in 2034. The projected 5,140 openings over the decade include growth and replacement needs as workers leave an occupation. Dividing that total by ten gives the rounded annual average shown above. These are projections, not today’s vacancies.
How to read wage information →