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Heavy equipment operator training in California

12 heavy equipment operator programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

5 schools offer these heavy equipment operator programs, and California has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Heavy equipment operators drive and control the machines that build roads, bridges and buildings. Most have a high school diploma and learn on the job or in a three- or four-year apprenticeship, and many need a commercial driver's license to haul their equipment between jobsites.1

In California, 3 of the 12 programs take students without a high school diploma, 7 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 2 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 12 programs here are heavy equipment operator course (5 programs), heavy equipment with CDL (4 programs) and single machine course (3 programs).

See the 12 programs

How much does heavy equipment operator training cost in California?

$920 to $11,610 is what most heavy equipment operator programs in California cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 12 programs with a price. All of them: $621 to $34,727

In the typical program

Finished the program
91%
Working 6 months later
95%
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
2 to 12 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in California may also offer heavy equipment operator training. How these figures are made

Is there free heavy equipment operator training in California?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 12 heavy equipment operator programs in California approved for WIOA funding

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12 programs

  • Heavy equipment operator courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Certificate of Heavy Equipment Operations Level I

    Heavy Equipment Colleges of America

    San Bernardino

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Heavy Equipment Colleges of America, San BernardinoHeavy equipment operator course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$71,400
    Price if you pay yourself$11,417

    14 students trained with WIOA funding

    School website, Certificate of Heavy Equipment Operations Level I at Heavy Equipment Colleges of America
    More details about Certificate of Heavy Equipment Operations Level I at Heavy Equipment Colleges of America
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $17,839
    Length
    3 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $105
    Students counted
    289
    Earned a year, estimated
    $71,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $11,417
    students trained with WIOA funding
    14
    School website, Certificate of Heavy Equipment Operations Level I at Heavy Equipment Colleges of America

  • Heavy equipment with CDLIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    HED110: Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver - Level 1

    College of Instrument Technology

    Bellflower

    High school diploma or equivalent

    College of Instrument Technology, BellflowerHeavy equipment with CDLIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$47,800
    Price if you pay yourself$9,526

    84 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about HED110: Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver - Level 1 at College of Instrument Technology
    Finished
    92%
    Working at 6 months
    79%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,960
    Length
    12 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $473
    Students counted
    200
    Earned a year, estimated
    $47,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $9,526
    students trained with WIOA funding
    84

  • Heavy equipment operator courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Certificate of Heavy Equipment Operations Level II

    Heavy Equipment Colleges of America

    San Bernardino

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Heavy Equipment Colleges of America, San BernardinoHeavy equipment operator course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$80,200
    Price if you pay yourself$11,472
    School website, Certificate of Heavy Equipment Operations Level II at Heavy Equipment Colleges of America
    More details about Certificate of Heavy Equipment Operations Level II at Heavy Equipment Colleges of America
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    92%
    Earned in a quarter
    $20,052
    Length
    3 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $50
    Students counted
    135
    Earned a year, estimated
    $80,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $11,472
    School website, Certificate of Heavy Equipment Operations Level II at Heavy Equipment Colleges of America

  • Heavy equipment operator courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Heavy Equipment Logging Operations

    Shasta College

    Redding

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Shasta College, ReddingHeavy equipment operator course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$810
    Program website, Heavy Equipment Logging Operations at Shasta College
    More details about Heavy Equipment Logging Operations at Shasta College
    Finished
    16%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    17 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $595
    Students counted
    116
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $810
    Program website, Heavy Equipment Logging Operations at Shasta College

  • Heavy equipment with CDLIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    HED120: Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver- Level 2

    College of Instrument Technology

    Bellflower

    High school diploma or equivalent

    College of Instrument Technology, BellflowerHeavy equipment with CDLIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$12,026

    6 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about HED120: Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver- Level 2 at College of Instrument Technology
    Finished
    91%
    Working at 6 months
    95%
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    13 weeks, 23 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $473
    Students counted
    87
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,026
    students trained with WIOA funding
    6

  • Heavy equipment with CDLIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    HED150: Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver - Level 5

    College of Instrument Technology

    Bellflower

    High school diploma or equivalent

    College of Instrument Technology, BellflowerHeavy equipment with CDLIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$34,727

    43 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about HED150: Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver - Level 5 at College of Instrument Technology
    Finished
    88%
    Working at 6 months
    95%
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 35 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $772
    Students counted
    82
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $34,727
    students trained with WIOA funding
    43

  • Heavy equipment with CDLIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    HED130: Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver - Level 3

    College of Instrument Technology

    Bellflower

    High school diploma or equivalent

    College of Instrument Technology, BellflowerHeavy equipment with CDLIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$18,026
    More details about HED130: Heavy Equipment Operator Truck Driver - Level 3 at College of Instrument Technology
    Finished
    91%
    Working at 6 months
    95%
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    14 weeks, 23 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $473
    Students counted
    81
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $18,026

  • Heavy equipment operator courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Heavy Equipment Operator

    Valley ROP

    Sanger

    No diploma needed

    Valley ROP, SangerHeavy equipment operator courseIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$44,700
    Price if you pay yourself$1,500

    13 students trained with WIOA funding

    School website, Heavy Equipment Operator at Valley ROP
    More details about Heavy Equipment Operator at Valley ROP
    Finished
    83%
    Working at 6 months
    75%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,175
    Length
    8 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,520
    Students counted
    24
    Earned a year, estimated
    $44,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,500
    students trained with WIOA funding
    13
    School website, Heavy Equipment Operator at Valley ROP

  • Heavy equipment operator courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Heavy Equipment Operations (Level 1)

    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy

    Bakersfield

    No diploma needed

    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy, BakersfieldHeavy equipment operator courseIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$621
    More details about Heavy Equipment Operations (Level 1) at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    11 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,329
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $621

  • Single machine courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Backhoe

    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy

    Bakersfield

    No diploma needed

    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy, BakersfieldSingle machine courseIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$920
    More details about Backhoe at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    1 week, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,580
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $920

  • Single machine courseIn personEducation and courses

    Excavator

    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy

    Bakersfield

    Education and courses

    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy, BakersfieldSingle machine courseIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$920
    More details about Excavator at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    1 week, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,580
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $920

  • Single machine courseIn personEducation and courses

    Loader

    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy

    Bakersfield

    Education and courses

    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy, BakersfieldSingle machine courseIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$920
    More details about Loader at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    1 week, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,580
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $920

How to pay for heavy equipment operator training in California

WIOA funding can pay for heavy equipment operator training in California

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for heavy equipment operator training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for heavy equipment operator training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Heavy equipment operator training in California

programs with a price cost under $1,000
5 of 12
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
5th of 12
heavy equipment operator programs here, against the typical state's 4
12 vs 4

State comparisons use the same figures as the heavy equipment operator training by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Heavy equipment operator training in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Riverside and other California cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in California

How heavy equipment operator training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in California

Where the California heavy equipment operator program numbers come from

Which California heavy equipment operator programs are on this list?

These are the heavy equipment operator programs California approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what California offers.

How the prices and results of California heavy equipment operator programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about heavy equipment operator training in California

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Construction Equipment Operators
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List