Think Big About Your Future

and get started with your career in just two years

Two Years of Classroom Education Mixed With Hands-on Experience in a Butler Shop

If you have a great attitude, strong work ethic and basic mechanical skills, you can begin your education and training to become a Caterpillar Technician through ThinkBIG. ThinkBIG, Caterpillar’s Dealer Technician Education Program. This program is designed to develop entry-level diesel service technicians for Caterpillar dealerships like Butler Machinery Company in North Dakota and South Dakota. Caterpillar Inc. and Butler Machinery have partnered with North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton, ND, and Lake Area Technical College (LATC) in Watertown, SD to offer ThinkBIG students the best combined classroom education and hands-on learning to prepare them for a lucrative and life-long career in the skilled trades.

Jump-Start your Career with ThinkBIG

North Dakota ThinkBIG Application

South Dakota ThinkBIG Application

HEAR MORE ABOUT THE THINKBIG PROGRAM FROM THE BUTLER MACHINERY TEAM

HALF-TIME ON CAMPUS, HALF-TIME COMPLETING A PAID INTERNSHIP

ThinkBIG students receive up-to-date technical training on Cat equipment and systems through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory learning and a paid internship at a Butler Machinery dealership location to further the learning from the classroom and lab. Upon completion of the ThinkBIG program, graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Diesel Technology, and an official Caterpillar endorsement. Graduates will have the opportunity to become a full-time diesel technician with a Butler Machinery dealership location, and great potential for career advancement within the company.

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN

The ThinkBIG program is divided into nine terms. Terms will rotate between classroom/lab instruction at either North Dakota State College of Science or Lake Area Technical College, and a paid internship at a Butler Machinery Company location. There is a mandatory minimum of 1,280 total internship hours spent learning and working in the dealership. Students will receive a scholarship and paid internship package starting at $30,000. During the first year of the internship, students will earn wages starting at $16 per hour.

STAY ON BOARD AS A BUTLER TECH STARTING AT $26 PER HOUR

Following completion of the ThinkBIG program, graduates will have the opportunity to step into full-time employment with a Butler Machinery dealership location. Butler technician positions start at $26 per hour. Complementing the competitive pay and benefits of a full-time position, Butler provides 8% of annual wages in a retirement account, paid overtime starting at 8+ hours in a day and great potential for career advancement within the company.

Full-time Technician Classification	Pay Scale
Service E	$26.92 per hour
Service D	$29.16 per hour
Service C	$33.68 per hour
Service B	$36.99 per hour
Service A	$40.29 per hour
Service Technician	$43.61 per hour