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What You Need to Know About Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator
Career 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 Do Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Compile cost estimates for jobs.
- Perform specialized work, using equipment such as pile drivers, dredging rigs, drillers, or concrete pumpers.
- Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
- Talk to clients and study instructions, plans, or diagrams to establish work requirements.
- Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.
- Operate compactors, scrapers, or rollers to level, compact, or cover refuse at disposal grounds.
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Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Skills
When polled, Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment 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.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles
- Road Equipment Operator
- Steam Shovel Runner
- Operator and Truck Driver
- Equipment Operator/Laborer
- Steam Shovel Engineer
Is There Going to be Demand for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators?
In the United States, there were 371,100 jobs for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 45,800 new jobs for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator by 2026. There will be an estimated 47,300 positions for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator are Utah, Nevada, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Make?
Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators make between $31,320 and $84,160 a year.
Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators who work in Illinois, Hawaii, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,930 |
| Alaska | $70,750 |
| Arizona | $47,110 |
| Arkansas | $36,750 |
| California | $73,130 |
| Colorado | $49,750 |
| Connecticut | $71,060 |
| Delaware | $42,820 |
| District of Columbia | $61,320 |
| Florida | $40,160 |
| Georgia | $37,580 |
| Hawaii | $78,470 |
| Idaho | $46,810 |
| Illinois | $77,090 |
| Indiana | $58,180 |
| Iowa | $48,510 |
| Kansas | $41,200 |
| Kentucky | $47,930 |
| Louisiana | $46,160 |
| Maine | $43,400 |
| Maryland | $49,560 |
| Massachusetts | $67,410 |
| Michigan | $52,800 |
| Minnesota | $62,770 |
| Mississippi | $38,310 |
| Missouri | $53,990 |
| Montana | $51,580 |
| Nebraska | $43,590 |
| Nevada | $58,410 |
| New Hampshire | $50,230 |
| New Jersey | $75,150 |
| New Mexico | $44,900 |
| New York | $81,930 |
| North Carolina | $39,990 |
| North Dakota | $55,440 |
| Ohio | $56,600 |
| Oklahoma | $41,710 |
| Oregon | $55,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,320 |
| Rhode Island | $64,820 |
| South Carolina | $40,220 |
| South Dakota | $44,150 |
| Tennessee | $41,180 |
| Texas | $41,730 |
| Utah | $48,640 |
| Vermont | $42,930 |
| Virginia | $42,470 |
| Washington | $67,260 |
| West Virginia | $45,280 |
| Wisconsin | $62,540 |
| Wyoming | $58,270 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
- Maintenance record software
Becoming an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator
What education or degrees do I need to become an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator?
What work experience do I need to become an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator?
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
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