Operating Engineer at Montana Operating Engineers AGCJATT Local 400
at Montana Operating Engineers AGCJATT Local 400 in East Helena, MT
About This Program
Montana Operating Engineers AGCJATT Local 400 sponsors this union (JATC) apprenticeship for heavy equipment operators in East Helena, MT. Developed in partnership with the Associated General Contractors, this program reflects a strong collaboration between organized labor and the construction industry, ensuring apprentices train in conditions that mirror professional worksites. Apprentices receive wages throughout their training period.
The program spans four years and includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training paired with 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices develop proficiency operating bulldozers, excavators, scrapers, graders, and cranes used across Montana's construction, mining, and infrastructure sectors. Classroom instruction covers hydraulic systems, equipment inspection, load rigging, and occupational safety standards.
Graduates earn journeyman Operating Engineer status, qualifying them for skilled positions on large-scale construction and civil engineering projects throughout Montana and the region. Union affiliation through Local 400 provides access to collectively bargained wages, benefits, and a professional community of skilled heavy equipment operators.
Wage & Training
OJT Hours
6,000
RTI Hours
432
Duration
4 years
How to Apply
What to Expect as an Operating Engineer Apprentice
Duration
4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~30 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (6,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
432 hours of related technical instruction (~108 hours/year)
Paid Training
You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress
Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
This is a union-affiliated program. Union apprenticeships typically offer strong benefits packages, pension contributions, and structured career advancement through the local hall.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Operating Engineer
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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