Operating Engineer at Operating Engineers JATC - Local 77
at Operating Engineers JATC - Local 77 in Suitland, MD
Wage & Training
OJT Hours
6,000
RTI Hours
432
Duration
4 years
About This Program
Operating Engineers JATC - Local 77 offers a union Operating Engineer apprenticeship in Suitland, MD. This Joint Apprenticeship Committee program serves the greater Washington, D.C. metro area, providing paid, structured training for individuals who want to build a career operating heavy equipment on some of the region's most significant construction projects.
The apprenticeship runs four years and is structured around 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices develop practical skills operating equipment including cranes, excavators, bulldozers, and loaders on construction sites across Maryland and the surrounding region. Classroom instruction addresses safe equipment operation, preventive maintenance, worksite safety standards, and applicable trade regulations.
Completing the program earns graduates journeyman status with Local 77, a credential recognized throughout the D.C. metro construction market. Union membership provides access to collectively bargained wages, healthcare, and retirement benefits, supporting a long-term career in one of the region's most active construction markets.
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.
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