What You Need to Know About Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator
Position Description Operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets, to excavate and load loose materials.
Life As an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator: What Do They Do?
- Lubricate, adjust, or repair machinery and replace parts, such as gears, bearings, or bucket teeth.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Perform manual labor to prepare or finish sites, such as shoveling materials by hand.
- Drive machines to work sites.
- Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.
- Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
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What an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators say are important on the job.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Trencher Driver
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Steam Shovel Operator
- Horseback Excavator
- Earth Moving Technician
Is There Job Demand for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators?
There were about 50,600 jobs for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,100 new jobs for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator are Utah, Texas, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Maine, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator Make?
The typical yearly salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators is somewhere between $29,580 and $74,460.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators who work in Wyoming, Alaska, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $41,620 |
Alaska | $73,380 |
Arizona | $48,340 |
Arkansas | $50,540 |
California | $65,510 |
Colorado | $53,310 |
Connecticut | $61,480 |
Delaware | $50,000 |
District of Columbia | $51,710 |
Florida | $39,720 |
Georgia | $40,020 |
Hawaii | $56,090 |
Idaho | $44,000 |
Illinois | $50,970 |
Indiana | $44,830 |
Iowa | $44,740 |
Kansas | $48,120 |
Kentucky | $42,340 |
Louisiana | $44,290 |
Maine | $43,070 |
Maryland | $50,910 |
Massachusetts | $59,990 |
Michigan | $46,830 |
Minnesota | $55,870 |
Mississippi | $40,960 |
Missouri | $51,130 |
Montana | $47,920 |
Nebraska | $40,950 |
Nevada | $62,390 |
New Hampshire | $44,590 |
New Jersey | $71,690 |
New Mexico | $45,190 |
New York | $72,400 |
North Carolina | $41,940 |
North Dakota | $62,300 |
Ohio | $42,330 |
Oklahoma | $44,060 |
Oregon | $48,920 |
Pennsylvania | $41,800 |
Rhode Island | $52,480 |
South Carolina | $49,240 |
South Dakota | $40,220 |
Tennessee | $39,740 |
Texas | $39,500 |
Utah | $47,180 |
Vermont | $41,290 |
Virginia | $42,710 |
Washington | $53,930 |
West Virginia | $49,550 |
Wisconsin | $54,020 |
Wyoming | $71,730 |
What Tools do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Google Gmail
How to Become an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator
Learn what Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator?

Where Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as an Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Helpers–Extraction Workers
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Roof Bolters, Mining
- Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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