Career Overview
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
Also Known As
- Equipment Operator (EO)
- Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO)
- Machine Operator
- Operating Engineer
Alternate Job Titles
- Angle Dozer Operator
- Asphalt Roller Operator
- Back Hoe Operator
- Backhoe Operator
- Blade Grader Operator
- Blade Operator
- Bulldozer Engineer
- Bulldozer Operator
- Bush Hog Operator
- Cable Engineer
- Car Runner
- Catshovel Driver
- Clamshell Engineer
- Construction Backhoe Operator
- Construction Bulldozer Operator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Learn and follow safety regulations.
- Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
- Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operation and Control
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Control Precision
- Depth Perception
- Near Vision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Far Vision
- Rate Control
- Reaction Time
- Response Orientation
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Perseverance
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Independence
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 Windows
Tools & Equipment
- 15-ton truck cranes
- 18-ton hydraulic cranes
- 20-ton tractors
- Adjustable wrenches
- Aeroil propane kettles
- Air compressors
- Angle dozers
- Aquatic weed harvesters
- Asphalt compactors
- Asphalt pavers
- Asphalt spreader boxes
- Axes
- Backhoe attachments
- Backhoes
- Barrier movers
Work Environment
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Consequence of Error
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Frequency of Decision Making
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $40,080 |
| Median | $58,710 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $100,690 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 469,270
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,550
Hoist and Winch Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,310
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
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $63,380
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,390
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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.