Heavy Equipment Operator School in New York (Salary 2023)

Whether you’re an absolute beginner or an expert individual looking to advance your skill, enrolling in the heavy equipment operator school in New York is the best way to go.

Most of the schools offer professional training to prepare their students to pass and qualify for certification and licensure.

They have a complete training facility and modern heavy equipment to update your skills and gain new abilities. Attending a school can help you achieve your goal of becoming a skilled operator.

If you are seeking to enroll in a course, here are the training schools you can find in this state:

International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
Local 030 - 115 06 Myrtle Avenue, Richmond Hill, New York 11418, (718) 847-8484
Local 211 - 225 Broadway, New York, NY, Phone: 212. 233.2690, Fax: 212.962.2523
Lcoal 158: 27 Hannay Lane, Glenmont, NY 12077, Phone: (518) 431-0600, Fax: (518) 431-0726
Local 825: 96 Bates/Gates Road, New Hampton NY 10958, Phone: (845) 673-3154, (845) 674-9020 (Hall)
Local 138: 575 Horse Block Road, Yaphank, NY 11719, 631-286-8677

Alfred State College (SUNY College of Technology)
Alfred State College, Alfred, New York 14802
Phone: (800) 425-3733

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) in Old Westbury
2 Northern Blvd., Old Westbury, New York 11568
Phone: (516) 686-7516

New York Institute of Technology
Northern Boulevard, P.O. Box 8000Old Westbury, NY, Phone: 516.686.1000
1855 Broadway (at 61st Street), New York, NY, Phone: 212.261.1500

Ferrari Driving School
Main Office: 3232 Steinway St. Astoria, NY 11103
Long Island City: 3528 19th Ave Long Island City, NY
Brooklyn: 2444 Linden Blvd Brooklyn, NY 11208
Bronx: 1480 Sheridan Expy Bronx, NY 10459

Buffalo Heavy Equipment Operator Training
976 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216
Tel: 716-837-2200

The Livia Equipment and Rental Networx Center LLC
819 15th Street, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Office: 631-648-9991, Cell: 631-926-9580, Fax: 631-676-4993

Upstate New York Engineers Training Fund
5612 Business Ave, Cicero, NY 13039
Phone: (315) 299-6104

Buffalo Heavy Equipment Operator Training
976 Kenmore Ave, Buffalo, New York 14216
Phone +1 716-875-8600

Pine Bush Equipment East PBE
97 Ny-302, Pine Bush, Ny 12566, Phone: (845) 744-2006
24 Sybil Court, Holmes, Ny 12531, Phone: (845) 878-4004

Associated Builders and Contractors Inc
6369 Collamer Dr, East Syracuse, NY, (315) 463-7539
878 Old Albany Shaker Rd, Latham, (518) 469-1507
125 Maiden Ln, New York, (718) 490-2079
2363 Broadway, Buffalo, (585) 730-1814
2672 West Ridge Road, Rochester, (585) 301-6005

Choosing the Right Heavy Equipment Operator School to Take the Course From

• The school must be equipped with a modern training facility - The right heavy equipment training school should have up-to-date training facilities and modern pieces of heavy equipment used in the training. Pay a visit to the school. It is important then to set an appointment with management to visit the premises and see the facilities yourself. This way you will be able to compare which school suits your standard.
  
  
• Good reputation. You can ask your fellow colleagues about the reputation of the school. Your colleagues may have something to say about the credibility of the school, they could be a reliable basis for making your decision.
  
  
• The right school will limit the number of students per class. A large class will be unfavorable to the quality of training. The ideal number of students per class should not exceed 12 trainees. The more students there are in the class, the more crowded the class will be. You don’t want to be in a crowded class.
  
  
• Find the one that accepts grand and has an installment payment scheme. The ballpark figure of the tuition is $10,000 to $12,000. This is not a small amount for the average individual wanting to take the heavy equipment training. The right school will accept federal grants. Some schools will offer installment payments to ease the payment.
  
  
• The right school will help you find a job after graduating. Construction companies have partnered with heavy equipment training centers to get qualified workers. A good school will offer employment assistance upon training completion.
  
  
• The school will help prepare you to pass the NCCER certification. If you want to work in the construction industry, you must have NCCER certification. Find a school that provides a preparatory class to pass the certification exams.
  
  
• The right school should have seasoned and certified instructors who are experts in heavy equipment training. To absorb as much knowledge as possible, the teacher must be competent, to begin with. Inquire about the teacher’s qualifications. The more experience he has, the more capable he is of transferring his knowledge to students.
  
  
• Find the one that has Simulator training – simulator training offers a safe and effective approach for operators to learn and understand equipment operational controls and proper operating practices. It doesn’t pose danger to novice operators who are just still on the learning curve.
  
  
• Provides preparatory courses for NCCCO and NCCER certifications. If you would work as a crane operator, you will need a CCO certificate. The NCCER certificate is required if you want to work in the construction industry. A good school should give a course to help students to pass these certifications.

How to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator in NY

1. Make a decision if this career is the one you want to pursue – deciding on the career path to take can be a daunting task and overwhelming. If you are comfortable working in the field and heavy equipment operation is your passion, then you won’t be having a hard time making the decision. If your personal qualities and strengths match the nature of the job of an operator, you can come up easily with a final decision that this career is the one you want to chase.
   
   
2. Complete the requirements – these requirements are your skills and qualifications for the position of a heavy equipment operator. These requirements will be asked of you when you’re enrolling for a training course and when you’re looking for a job. The very basic you need to obtain is a high school diploma, you need to be at least 18 years old and above, physically fit and in good health condition, for the more details of what you need to be a heavy equipment operator, see the requirement list below.
   
   
3. Enroll in a heavy equipment operator school – in New York state, the directory of training schools where you can enroll is listed above, make an inquiry with the school. The criteria for choosing the right school are also mentioned above, refer to those.
   
   
4. Take the classroom training and practical exercises. When you are enrolled, you will take the classroom instructions and hands-on operation. These are what comprised the course. The training course usually takes about 10 to 12 weeks to finish. But you will spend a lot of time doing the hands-on operation in an actual world scenario; you’ll spend lesser time attending the classroom training.
   
   
5. Receiving your certificate of training completion. Once you complete the classroom and practical training, you will then be given a written and practical test just to evaluate the knowledge you’ve gained from those training. When you pass, you will receive your certificate.
   
   
6. Taking the Apprenticeship Program. As a heavy equipment operator, you want to gain on-the-job training, be exposed to actual work scenarios and learn the skills under the supervision of a journeyman, to do that, you have to be an apprentice. You can apply for an apprenticeship program at the nearest local of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). Contact them, see the above details of IUOE. It may take 3 years to complete such a program. It is an opportunity for you to earn while learning the craft.

Entry Requirements to Become a Heavy Equipment Operator

• High School Diploma or its equivalent GED certificate – it can be a challenge if you don’t finish high school. If you don’t have it, you seek to obtain a GED in lieu of the HS diploma.
  
  
• You need to be at the right age of 18 years old and older – Some training schools accept students at the age of 17 as long there is permission from the parents or guardian. But to get accepted for a job, you need to be at least 18 years old.
  
  
• DOT physical – The nature of the job as a heavy equipment operator is physically demanding, thus you need to have good physical and health conditions. You may be required to take the DOT physical exams; this could be asked of you by an employer. To apply for DOT physical in NY, follow this page.
  
  
• Heavy equipment operator certificate – we already mentioned the steps you have to do to get a heavy equipment operator certificate. See above. To get such an operator certificate, you have to complete a course at the training school; the school will issue this to you.
  
  
• An optional requirement is an apprenticeship certificate – it would be great if you have completed an apprenticeship program. It is such a big credential if you have this. You can be offered much better pay if you have this credential.
  
  
• Class A Commercial Driver License (CDL) – An optional requirement is a CDL. This license will allow you to drive dump trucks and flatbed trailers to transport goods and other equipment from and to the job site on public roads. It would be handy if you have a CDL, the employer may also ask you about this. If you would like to apply for CDL, read this page.

Application of Hoisting Machine Operator License

If you will be working with cranes and other hoisting equipment, you will need a hoisting machine operator license in New York. The Department of Buildings is the authority that issued this.

There are three classes for hoisting machine operator license you can apply, namely:

• Class A is issued to those operators of cane equipment with a boom length under 200 feet. The fee for a new license is $150, the fee for a renewal is the same.
  
  
• Class B is for the operators who will operate equipment regardless of the length of the boom; the new license application is $200 while the renewal is just $150.
  
  
• Class C license is for operators who operate machines under 50 tons. For the new application, the fee is $100, renewal is $75.

The hoisting machine operator license is valid for three (3) years.

The general requirements to apply for these license classes are you need to have either the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) or the Crane Institute Certification (CIC) certification, you must pass a background check, and you have to personally apply for the license.

Salary of heavy Equipment Operators in Different Cities and Towns of NY

According to the March 28, 2023 report of Salary.com,  the average yearly salary of operators working in this state is $75,168. And since location is a factor in determining how much pay you would make, here are the cities and towns of NY that offer the best pay:

If you will work in the nearest state of New Jersey, you could make a way better salary.

Contacting the Relevant Authorities

NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)
Licensing Division, 280 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 393-2259

National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)
Visit their website atwww.nccer.org
To find a testing center, see this link

National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)
Visit their site:www.nccco.org
For other license requirements in NY, see this page.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Albany: (518) 464-4338
Buffalo: (716) 551-3053
Westbury: (516) 334-3344
New York: (212) 620-3200
Little Neck: (718) 279-9060
North Syracuse: (315) 451-0808
Tarrytown: (914) 524-7510

To Make a Conclusion

Find a heavy equipment operator school in NY. The directory is above for your reference. Contact them and inquire about the training schedule and others you need.

You can receive professional training and preparatory course by enrolling in a course offered by the school.

Being a heavy equipment operator is a rewarding profession and a lucrative job. You can make as much as $25 an hour doing the job. Your annual salary could reach up to $70,000.

You can expect stable career growth and demand in the next coming decades. You won’t have a hard time finding a job and staying on it.

Good luck with the career path you took!