Career Overview
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
Also Known As
- Dragline Oiler
- Dragline Operator
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Loader Operator
Alternate Job Titles
- Aerial Tram Operator
- Air Shovel Operator
- Back Digger Operator
- Back Filler Operator
- Back Hoe Machine Operator
- Back Hoe Operator
- Backhoe Operator
- Clam Shovel Operator
- Coal Equipment Operator
- Diesel Scoop Operator
- Dragline Oiler
- Dragline Operator
- Earth Moving Equipment Operator
- Earth Moving Machine Operator
- Earth Moving Technician
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
- Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
- Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Multilimb Coordination
- Control Precision
- Depth Perception
- Reaction Time
- Manual Dexterity
- Response Orientation
- Far Vision
- Rate Control
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Spatial Orientation
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable wrenches
- Air grease guns
- Asphalt plants
- Backhoes
- Claw hammers
- Compact excavators
- Computer terminals
- Concrete plants
- Crawler mounted draglines
- Crusher excavator buckets
- Dump trucks
- Earthmover standard buckets
- Engineers' levels
- Excavator backhoes
- Flatbed truck trailers
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $39,650 |
| Median | $52,550 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $80,970 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 34,210
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $58,710
Construction Laborers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,730
Hoist and Winch Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,310
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $63,380
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $63,980
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.