Crane operator training in Washington

5 crane operator programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

3 schools offer these crane operator programs, and Washington has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Crane and tower operators lift and move materials, machinery and other heavy loads, usually guided by signals from workers on the ground. Training can take several months, many operators first spend years running other construction equipment or working as riggers and signalers, and some states and cities require a crane operator license.¹ On construction sites, federal rules require employers to make sure each crane operator is certified, by an accredited testing organization, or licensed before running most cranes, and the employer must provide that certification at no cost to the worker.²

In Washington, 1 of the 5 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 4 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 5 programs here are mobile crane operator course (3 programs) and rigger and signal person course (2 programs).

See the 5 programs

How much does crane operator training cost in Washington?

$1,695 to $12,000 is what most crane operator programs in Washington cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 5 programs with a price. All of them: $1,695 to $17,500

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: 1 to 4 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Washington may also offer crane operator training. How these figures are made

Is there free crane operator training in Washington?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 3 people at 1 of the 5 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Most crane operator programs in Washington cost $1,695 to $12,000. Prices on this page run from $1,695 to $17,500.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 5 crane operator programs in Washington approved for WIOA funding

5 programs

Mobile crane operator courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cert. of Heavy Equip. Operations-Mobile Crane
Heavy Equipment College of Washington
Lakewood
High school diploma or equivalent
Heavy Equipment College of Washington, LakewoodMobile crane operator courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$40,400
Price if you pay yourself$8,500
3 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Cert. of Heavy Equip. Operations-Mobile Crane at Heavy Equipment College of Washington
More details about Cert. of Heavy Equip. Operations-Mobile Crane at Heavy Equipment College of Washington
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
72%
Earned in a quarter
$10,110
Length
3 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$75
Students counted
96
Earned a year, estimated
$40,400
Price if you pay yourself
$8,500
students trained with WIOA funding
3
Program website, Cert. of Heavy Equip. Operations-Mobile Crane at Heavy Equipment College of Washington
Mobile crane operator courseIn personNo diploma needed
NCCCO Crane and Rigger
West Coast Training
Woodland
No diploma needed
West Coast Training, WoodlandMobile crane operator courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$70,000
Price if you pay yourself$17,500
School website, NCCCO Crane and Rigger at West Coast Training
More details about NCCCO Crane and Rigger at West Coast Training
Finished
97%
Working at 6 months
82%
Earned in a quarter
$17,512
Length
8 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$153
Students counted
43
Earned a year, estimated
$70,000
Price if you pay yourself
$17,500
School website, NCCCO Crane and Rigger at West Coast Training
Mobile crane operator courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator
West Coast Training
Woodland
High school diploma or equivalent
West Coast Training, WoodlandMobile crane operator courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$12,000
Program website, NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator at West Coast Training
More details about NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator at West Coast Training
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
73%
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
4 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$153
Students counted
15
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$12,000
Program website, NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator at West Coast Training
Rigger and signal person courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Rigging Gear Inspector Level I & II
Industrial Training International, Inc.
Woodland
High school diploma or equivalent
Industrial Training International, Inc., WoodlandRigger and signal person courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$1,695
Program website, Rigging Gear Inspector Level I & II at Industrial Training International, Inc.
More details about Rigging Gear Inspector Level I & II at Industrial Training International, Inc.
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
1 week, 20 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$1,695
Program website, Rigging Gear Inspector Level I & II at Industrial Training International, Inc.
Rigger and signal person courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Rigging Gear Inspector Level III
Industrial Training International, Inc.
Woodland
High school diploma or equivalent
Industrial Training International, Inc., WoodlandRigger and signal person courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$1,695
Program website, Rigging Gear Inspector Level III at Industrial Training International, Inc.
More details about Rigging Gear Inspector Level III at Industrial Training International, Inc.
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
1 week, 20 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$1,695
Program website, Rigging Gear Inspector Level III at Industrial Training International, Inc.

How to pay for crane operator training in Washington

WIOA funding can pay for crane operator training in Washington

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for crane operator training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for crane operator training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Crane operator training in Longview, Seattle and other Washington cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Washington

How crane operator training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Washington

Where the Washington crane operator program numbers come from

Which Washington crane operator programs are on this list?

These are the crane operator programs Washington approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Washington offers.

How the prices and results of Washington crane operator programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about crane operator training in Washington

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