How long does heavy equipment operator training take in Colorado?

Most paths into the heavy equipment operator field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for heavy equipment operators in Colorado?

In Colorado, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator in Colorado (2026)

Q: How much do heavy equipment operators earn in Colorado?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), heavy equipment operators in Colorado earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,620. Employment concentration in Colorado is about 1.32 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for heavy equipment operators in Colorado?

Colorado currently employs approximately 11,700 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn a median annual wage of $62,620 ($30.11/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 11,700 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.6% above the national median of $59,850 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,620 ($30.11/hr)
25th percentile: $57,700 per year
75th percentile: $73,670 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $78,870 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $49,480 per year
Workers employed in Colorado: 11,700
Versus national median: 4.6% above the U.S. median of $59,850
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.32 - this occupation is more concentrated in Colorado than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Colorado employs about 11,700 heavy equipment operators earning a median $62,620 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most heavy equipment operators train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Colorado.

Key Facts

Median wage (Colorado): $62,620/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Colorado: 11,700 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.32x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 3.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Heavy Equipment Operator Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators wages in Colorado vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial	5,150	$64,080	$67,120	$52,470	$79,900
Greeley	1,550	$60,690	$60,600	$50,020	$73,640
Colorado Springs	1,030	$61,660	$62,850	$49,390	$77,740
Fort Collins-Loveland	600	$64,650	$65,940	$51,030	$78,110
Grand Junction	390	$57,700	$57,320	$47,630	$71,070
Pueblo	310	$61,130	$62,310	$47,380	$74,820
Boulder	190	$71,060	$70,760	$50,440	$93,370

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Colorado): $62,620 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator in Colorado

How to become a heavy equipment operator in Colorado? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for heavy equipment operators in Colorado.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do heavy equipment operators earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for heavy equipment operators in Colorado is $62,620 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,480 and experienced professionals can earn $78,870 or more ¹.

How to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator in Colorado

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Colorado training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Colorado that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to heavy equipment operators in Colorado before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Heavy Equipment Operator Apprenticeship Information in Colorado

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Colorado’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment - Apprenticeship
Address: 633 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202-3660
Phone: (720) 204-8608
Email: [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for heavy equipment operators in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 11,700 heavy equipment operators ¹. Nationally, heavy equipment operator employment is projected to grow 3.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Colorado? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Colorado. You can also contact the Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do heavy equipment operators earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for heavy equipment operators in Colorado is $62,620, which is $3,910 above the national median of $58,710 according to BLS data ¹.

In Colorado

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)