What is an 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?
- Perform manual labor to prepare or finish sites, such as shoveling materials by hand.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
- Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
Featured schools near , edit
What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator?
When polled, Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Tower Excavator Operator
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Back Hoe Operator
- Excavator Operator
- Pit Shovel Operator
Job Opportunities for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
In the United States, there were 50,600 jobs for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator in 2016. 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.
Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator Average Salary
The salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators ranges between about $29,580 and $74,460 a year.

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 each U.S. state?
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 & Technology 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
Individuals working as an Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators Are Employed

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those who work as an Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- 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.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |