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Operating Engineers & Other Construction Equipment Operators
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Machine Operator

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators run construction equipment such as bulldozers, excavating equipment, and other heavy machinery
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Machine Operator
heavy life
heavy digger
heavy shovel
heavy wheels
becoming heavy
Did you love playing with hot wheels and tonka trucks as a kid? How about learning to operate the biggest, baddest machinery in the world?
Why Should You Consider This Career?

1. High Pay, 2. Good Job Security, 3. Great Retirement Benefits

TYPICAL SALARY
$80k
That's $3,300 per bi-weekly paycheck
CAREER OUTLOOK
Growing
That's 2000 new jobs in Utah per year (30% growth)
Less Physical                                         More Physical
—————|————
Less Training                                          More Training
—————|————
More Structure                                     Less Structure
—————|————
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Back Hoe Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator (EO), Forklift Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Hot Mix Asphalt Operator, Machine Operator, Motor Grader Operator, Operating Engineer, Track Hoe Operator

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.

At A Glance in US
2028 JOB GROWTH
Wage loader
398,000 (35%)
SALARY RANGE
This is some text inside of a div block.
AVG. JOBS / YEAR
398,000 (35%)
TIME TO JOURNEYMAN
398,000 (35%)
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Back Hoe Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator (EO), Forklift Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Hot Mix Asphalt Operator, Machine Operator, Motor Grader Operator, Operating Engineer, Track Hoe Operator
A Typical Day Icon

Your Typical Day:

  • 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.
  • Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
  • Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.
  • Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain.
wage icon

Wages in the US:

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$
41.93
Per Hour Base Income
$TBD
Total Compensation
Your Responsibilities Icon

Your Responsibilities

  • Update job related knowledge or skills.
  • Position construction or extraction equipment.
  • Monitor construction operations.
  • Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.
  • Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed.
  • Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.
  • Maintain construction tools or equipment.
  • Signal equipment operators to indicate proper equipment positioning.
  • Load or unload materials used in construction or extraction.
  • Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Your Knowledge Icon

Knowledge You Will Learn

  • Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 64/100

  • English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 58/100

  • Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. 53/100

  • Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 45/100

  • Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. 45/100

  • Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 43/100

  • Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. 40/100

  • Transportation

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. 39/100

  • Building and Construction

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads. 37/100

  • Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. 34/100

Tools of the Trade Icon

Tools of the Trade

  • Dump trucks
  • Hydraulic truck cranes
  • Power saws
  • Scrubbing machines
  • Water trucks
  • Land drilling rigs
  • Front end loaders
  • Agricultural tractors
  • Bituminous material distributors
  • Cargo trucks
  • Pulled scrapers
  • Graders
  • Hoists
  • Track bulldozers
  • Blades or tooth or other cutting edges
  • Articulating boom lift
  • Post hole digger
  • Lifts
  • Dredgers
  • Paving breakers
  • Conventional truck cranes
  • Curbing machines
  • Track excavators
  • Road pavers
  • Drain or pipe cleaning equipment
  • Skid steer loaders
  • Snowplow attachments
  • Joint cleaning or refacing machines
  • Track cranes
  • Demolition equipment kits
  • Mobile phones
  • Mowers
  • Sprayers
  • Manlift or personnel lift
  • Compactors
  • Pick or place robots
  • Drilling machines
  • Earthmoving buckets or its parts or accessories
  • Blow torch
  • Flatbed trailers
  • Jacks
  • Track loaders
  • Edgers
  • Metal detectors
  • Backhoe boom or boom sections
  • Wheel bulldozers
  • Forestry saws
  • Weeders
  • Pneumatic hammer
  • Protective gloves
  • Vibratory plates
  • Gas generators
  • Power grinders
  • Telescoping boom lift
  • Mobile excavators
  • Asphalt finishers
  • Loading equipment
  • Threading die hand tool
  • Wheel excavators
  • Measuring wheels for distance
  • Kettle exchangers
  • Agricultural rollers
  • Light trucks or sport utility vehicles
  • Seeder attachment
  • Conveyor rails
  • Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus
  • Rollers for lawn or sports grounds
  • Trenching machines
  • Extendable conveyors
  • Paint sprayers
  • Elevating scrapers
  • Wheel loaders
  • Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine
  • Hazardous material protective apparel
  • Water pumps
  • Two way radios
  • Air compressors
  • Screwdrivers
  • Tape measures
  • Snow blowers
  • Respirators
  • Harrows
  • Vacuum pumps
  • Hammers
  • Levels
  • Safety glasses
  • Forklifts
  • Power drills
  • Draglines
  • Milling machines
  • Shovels
  • Rulers
  • Safety boots
  • Axes
  • Rollers
  • Picks
  • Ear plugs
  • Chip Spreaders
  • Ditchers
  • Derricks
  • Tampers
  • Desktop computers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Saws
  • Personal computers
  • Winches
  • Power sanders
  • Backhoes
No items found.
Related Careers Icon

Helpful Career Links

International Union of Operating Engineers
National Center for Construction Education and Research
National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Construction equipment operators
Pile Driving Contractors Association
The Associated General Contractors of America

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