by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 53 U.S. colleges awarded 859 degrees and certificates in Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician. Certificates are the most popular award, at 36% of graduates. College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $49,653 one year after completing, rising to $65,192 after four years.
A degree in Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician covers Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills In The Field Maintenance And Repair Of Heavy Equipment, And In The General Maintenance And Overhaul Of Such Equipment. Includes Instruction In Inspection, Maintenance, And Repair Of Tracks, Wheels, Brakes, Operating Controls, Pneumatic And Hydraulic Systems, Electrical Circuitry, Engines And In Techniques Of Welding And Brazing. Examples: [Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic], [Heavy Duty Equipment Technician], [Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (Off Road)], [Heavy Equipment Service Technician].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician is a popular field of study, with 859 degrees awarded annually. 53 colleges award heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 144.
By level, the 859 awards include 311 certificates, 230 associate degrees, 12 bachelor’s degrees and 306 master’s degrees.
Women earned 6% of heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician degrees and certificates in the latest year (55 of 859). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (567) and Hispanic or Latino (151), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools ranking, including 12 for associate degrees and 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician schools within 6 states. In all, 53 colleges offer heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician credential is the certificate: 311 of the 859 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician call most for Repairing, Troubleshooting and Equipment Maintenance, and for knowledge of Mechanical, Engineering and Technology and Public Safety and Security, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Problem Sensitivity and Arm-Hand Steadiness.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 311 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 230 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 12 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 306 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician, at 50.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 50.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 41.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.9% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician, with an average median salary of $52,687; the strongest outlook belongs to Rail Car Repairers, at 14.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Air Valve Repairer, Valve Mechanic, Air Valve Mechanic and Mechanic.
The occupation related to heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician with the most projected jobs is Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door, at 577,707.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 577,707 | 5.5% |
| Rail Car Repairers | 307,791 | 14.4% |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | 67,931 | 3.2% |
Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician graduates earn a median $49,653 one year after completing their program, $65,192 after four years and $60,175 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,653 |
| 4 years | $65,192 |
| 5 years | $60,175 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician, with a median salary of $69,523.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | $69,523 |
| Rail Car Repairers | $49,359 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $39,180 |
Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician has 2 similar majors in the Mechanic & Repair Technologies field, which together award 9,226 degrees a year; the largest are Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician (9,157) and Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians, Other (69). Browse all Mechanic & Repair Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician | 9,157 |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians, Other | 69 |
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