Heavy Machine Operations Pre-Apprenticeship Pathway
Hate sitting around?
Does your student hate the idea of sitting behind a desk all day? Would they rather work outdoors and be part of bringing the plans for a brand-new hospital, school, or office building to life? Then, they might be a terrific heavy equipment operator!
What Heavy Equipment Operators do
Heavy equipment operators work with a variety of construction equipment such as cranes, bulldozers, excavators, forklifts, front-end loaders, and backhoes, and are indispensable on construction sites. And the terrific news is that these are often union jobs with great benefits and pay! For example, in Minnesota (one of the states where we offer a pre-apprenticeship program in heavy equipment operation), successful program graduates make $24–34 per hour right out of high school!1
Gain construction industry experience and college credit.
Stride Career Prep* has partnered with local unions and community colleges to create an exciting apprenticeship training program to become a journeyman operating engineer (heavy equipment operator, mechanic, or surveyor) in the construction industry.**
The program includes a semester of guided career exploration in the construction industry, plus courses in construction math, construction equipment fundamentals, and mobile equipment maintenance. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to enter a registered apprenticeship program with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IOUE) Local 49 in Minnesota or IUOE 139 in Wisconsin and receive credits from a community college in their state.
Imagine graduating from high school with community college credit and going right into an apprenticeship paying $24–34 per hour, with benefits!
Our Heavy Machine Operations Pre-Apprenticeship Curriculum in Detail
All students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes students take as part of the Heavy Machine Operations Pre-Apprenticeship Pathway. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
| CAREER EXPLORATION COURSES These courses provide an opportunity for students to gain insight into potential careers. | CAREER FOUNDATION COURSES These courses are building blocks that prepare students for more specialized pathway courses. | CAREER PREPARATION COURSES These courses prepare students for industry-recognized certification exams. |
| Manufacturing Explorations OR Construction Explorations | Basic Grade & Construction Math† Basic Construction Equipment Fundamentals | Basic Maintenance of Mobile Equipment CDL Preparation (Wisconsin only) |
†New in fall 2022
Get credentialed.
In a world where competition for jobs, pay increases, and academic success continues to increase, certifications provide a credible, third-party assessment of a student’s skills and knowledge of a given subject. Students in this pathway can prepare to take these industry-recognized certification exams:**
| CAREER SKILLS CERTIFICATIONS These baseline certifications indicate students have mastered domain-specific, entry-level job skills. |
| NOCTI Manufacturing Technology |
Get ahead of the competition.
We encourage students to jumpstart the job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo, the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they connect virtually to working business professionals and entrepreneurs through Nepris.***
Find a school near you that offers the Heavy Machine Operations Pre-Apprenticeship Pathway.
Stride Career Prep programs with the Heavy Machine Operations Pre-Apprenticeship Pathway are available at tuition-free K12-powered public online schools in:
- MINNESOTA – Minnesota Virtual Academy
- WISCONSIN – Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin
Don’t see your state? Check out the tuition-based option here in the Heavy Machine Operations Pre-Apprenticeship Pathway. There’s also a tuition-free option in a related field: the Advanced Manufacturing Pathway
Choose a career. Prepare for the future.
Students in this pathway can prepare for a wide variety of careers in the field of machine operations, including:
Construction Equipment Operator
Construction equipment operators drive, maneuver, and control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, buildings, and other structures. They may also need to clean and maintain the equipment, making basic repairs if necessary.
2021 Median Salary
$48,290
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Slower than average
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/construction-equipment-operators.htm.
Material Moving Machine Operator
Material moving machine operators use equipment to transport objects. For example, some operators move goods around factories and storage areas or onto container ships. Others move construction materials around building sites.
2021 Median Salary
$38,380
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Average
Typical Entry-Level Education
Although no formal educational credential is typically required, companies may prefer to hire material moving machine operators who have a high school diploma. For crane and tower operators and dredge operators, a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on June 29, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/material-moving-machine-operators.htm.
FAQs
Pre-apprenticeship programs prepare individuals to enter apprenticeship programs. They involve a formal partnership with an apprenticeship program sponsor, often a labor union representing individuals in a particular trade. Requirements vary by program. If your student is interested in entering an apprenticeship program, they or you can contact the apprenticeship program sponsor directly to discuss how to meet their prerequisites. Many have relationships with vocational high schools or community colleges and will suggest that you enroll in their affiliated vocational or community college program. We offer a pre-apprenticeship program in heavy machine operations for high school students living in Wisconsin and Minnesota that is sponsored by the respective state chapters of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to enter a registered apprenticeship program (with IUOE Local 49 in Minnesota or IUOE 139 in Wisconsin) and receive credits from a community college in their state.
Enrolling in a pre-apprenticeship program while still in high school is the best way to prepare to become a heavy equipment operator. We offer a pre-apprenticeship program in heavy machine operations for high school students living in Wisconsin and Minnesota that is sponsored by the respective state chapters of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to enter a registered apprenticeship program (with IUOE Local 49 in Minnesota or IUOE 139 in Wisconsin) and receive credits from a community college in their state. If your student does not live in one of these states, we recommend they contact the IUOE chapter in your state to inquire about any pre-apprenticeship programs they may sponsor with other entities.
To get a great union job out of high school, connect with the local chapter of the relevant union for the trade you wish to pursue. Find out if they sponsor any pre-apprenticeship programs and, if so, how to enroll in one of these programs.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Information Technology (IT)
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*Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. Some schools offer career exploration in middle school.
**Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
***Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
1Local 49/MNVA Operating Engineer Apprenticeship Readiness Pathway ebook