Operating Engineer at Wisconsin Operating Engineers JAC

Wisconsin Operating Engineers JAC offers a union JATC Operating Engineer Apprenticeship in Coloma, WI. This joint apprenticeship committee program is designed to train skilled heavy equipment operators for Wisconsin's construction, infrastructure, and industrial sectors through a structured combination of field experience and classroom education.

The program runs for four years, encompassing 6,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices work on active construction projects operating equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, cranes, scrapers, and paving machines. Technical instruction covers equipment operation techniques, preventive maintenance, safety and OSHA standards, and grade-reading skills. Apprentices receive wages from the start of the program and typically see incremental pay increases as they progress.

Graduates achieve journeyman Operating Engineer status, positioning them for long-term careers with union contractors throughout Wisconsin and nationally. The program's JATC structure ensures apprentices benefit from both union advocacy and employer partnership, providing a reliable foundation for skilled trades employment.