by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation explores Construction/heavy Equipment/earthmoving Equipment Operation. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Operate And Maintain A Variety Of Heavy Equipment, Such As A Crawler Tractors, Motor Graders And Scrapers, Shovels, Rigging Devices, Hoists, And Jacks. Includes Instruction In Digging, Ditching, Sloping, Stripping, Grading, And Backfiling, Clearing And Excavating. Read on to learn the important information every construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation programs.
Across the country, construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation is a widely-pursued major, with 1,131 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Schools ranking analyzes these 55 schools to determine the best overall colleges for construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation programs later in this article.
Programs in Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 557 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 93 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 468 |
People currently working in careers related to construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 63.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 16.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 13.5% |
| Some college courses | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dredge Operators | 938,261 | 12.3% |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | 906,578 | -0.0% |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | 751,306 | 2.7% |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 710,577 | 1.7% |
| Pile Driver Operators | 665,383 | -2.7% |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | 665,337 | 5.7% |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 548,499 | -1.1% |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | 420,562 | -2.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,832 |
| 4 years | $42,430 |
| 5 years | $45,687 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $76,527 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $64,008 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $60,332 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operators | $55,998 |
| Dredge Operators | $55,307 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $54,087 |
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $53,437 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $48,937 |
With 55 different construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation school rankings to help you.
Those considering construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor | 21,399 |
| Forklift Operation/Operator | 197 |
| Ground Transportation, Other | 163 |
| Railroad and Railway Transportation | 78 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
