Find Trade Colleges
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: Job Description
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.
What Tasks Do Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Perform?
Typical responsibilities of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators cover:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Top operating engineers and other construction equipment operators draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Angle Dozer Operator
- Asphalt Roller Operator
- Back Hoe Operator
- Backhoe Operator
- Blade Grader Operator
- Blade Operator
- Bulldozer Engineer
- Bulldozer Operator
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 554,723 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -1.1% over the projection horizon.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $54,087 |
| Hourly median | $26.00 |
| 10th percentile | $36,627 |
| 25th percentile | $45,357 |
| 75th percentile | $62,818 |
| 90th percentile | $71,548 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $105,440 |
| Illinois | $96,980 |
| California | $89,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,170 |
| New York | $80,260 |
| Washington | $79,190 |
| Minnesota | $78,580 |
| Connecticut | $76,690 |
| Rhode Island | $76,030 |
| Alaska | $75,000 |
| Massachusetts | $72,800 |
| Nevada | $72,780 |
| Wisconsin | $72,650 |
| Indiana | $72,370 |
| District of Columbia | $69,050 |
| Oregon | $68,210 |
| Wyoming | $63,560 |
| New Hampshire | $62,770 |
| North Dakota | $62,760 |
| Michigan | $62,550 |
| Ohio | $62,410 |
| Colorado | $61,570 |
| Iowa | $61,210 |
| Maryland | $60,620 |
| Montana | $60,130 |
| Missouri | $60,050 |
| Arizona | $59,900 |
| Utah | $59,760 |
| Idaho | $59,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,580 |
| Nebraska | $57,240 |
| Kentucky | $57,060 |
| South Dakota | $56,720 |
| Delaware | $56,630 |
| Vermont | $56,260 |
| Maine | $55,170 |
| Virginia | $52,240 |
| Kansas | $50,600 |
| West Virginia | $50,010 |
| Louisiana | $49,650 |
| Texas | $49,650 |
| New Mexico | $49,130 |
| Tennessee | $49,070 |
| North Carolina | $48,910 |
| Florida | $48,780 |
| South Carolina | $47,480 |
| Oklahoma | $47,190 |
| Virgin Islands | $47,020 |
| Alabama | $46,870 |
| Georgia | $46,380 |
| Mississippi | $46,020 |
| Arkansas | $45,170 |
| Guam | $39,260 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,200 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $83,983 | 13.0% | 0.90 |
| Great Lakes | $72,948 | 12.1% | 0.89 |
| New England | $69,816 | 4.0% | 0.87 |
| Middle Atlantic | $68,579 | 10.6% | 0.80 |
| Plains States | $62,393 | 8.3% | 1.45 |
| Rocky Mountains | $60,940 | 6.3% | 1.90 |
| Southwest | $51,134 | 17.0% | 1.36 |
| Southeast | $48,928 | 28.0% | 1.26 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $117,350 | 4,560 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $115,500 | 1,350 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $109,740 | 950 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $101,200 | 7,760 |
| Springfield, IL | IL | $99,950 | 230 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $98,830 | 640 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $98,610 | 11,790 |
| Rockford, IL | IL | $96,740 | 280 |
Which Industries Hire Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Most operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 295,700 | $60,950 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 26,430 | $57,840 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 25,950 | $51,080 |
| Manufacturing | 9,760 | $51,950 |
| Wholesale Trade | 7,780 | $47,260 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 6,090 | $53,930 |
| Utilities | 4,020 | $81,040 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,660 | $60,110 |
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators is shaped by the following characteristics:
- 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
Education and Training
Typical operating engineers and other construction equipment operators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (Primary-Long)
- Pile Driver Operators (Primary-Long)
- Highway Maintenance Workers (Supplemental)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (Primary-Short)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring operating engineers and other construction equipment operators commonly pursue programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.