by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 50 U.S. colleges awarded 1,010 degrees and certificates in Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation. Certificates are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 33 schools in its 2027 Best Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $44,612 one year after completing, rising to $52,752 after four years.
Studying 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation is a widely-pursued major, with 1,010 degrees awarded annually. 50 colleges award construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 84.
By level, the 1,010 awards include 509 certificates, 100 associate degrees and 365 master’s degrees.
Women earned 8% of construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation degrees and certificates in the latest year (78 of 1,010). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (613) and Black or African American (100).
College Factual ranks 33 schools in its 2027 Best Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees. It also ranks construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation schools within 1 state. In all, 50 colleges offer construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation credential is the certificate: 509 of the 1,010 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation call most for Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Mechanical, Public Safety and Security and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Control Precision, Multilimb Coordination and Depth Perception.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 509 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 100 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 365 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation, at 63.5%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation, with an average median salary of $48,095; the strongest outlook belongs to Dredge Operators, at 12.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Equipment Operator, Harvester Operator, Excavator Operator and Heavy Equipment Operator.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation, at 938,261.
| 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% |
Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation graduates earn a median $44,612 one year after completing their program, $52,752 after four years and $45,932 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,612 |
| 4 years | $52,752 |
| 5 years | $45,932 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation is Extraction Workers, All Other, with a median salary of $76,527.
| 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 |
Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation has 4 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 18,479 degrees a year; the largest are Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor (17,965), Forklift Operation/Operator (318) and Ground Transportation, Other (109). Browse all Transportation & Materials Moving majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor | 17,965 |
| Forklift Operation/Operator | 318 |
| Ground Transportation, Other | 109 |
| Railroad and Railway Transportation | 87 |
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