What You Need to Know About Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator
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.
Daily Life Of an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator
- Push other equipment when extra traction or assistance is required.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Compile cost estimates for jobs.
- 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.
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Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Needed Skills
Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator
- Grader
- Equipment Operator
- Engineering Equipment Operator
- Mucker Operator
- Back Hoe Operator
Job Demand for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 371,100 jobs in the United States for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 47,300 job openings in this field each 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.
Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators is somewhere between $31,320 and $84,160.
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 each U.S. state?
| 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
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
- Maintenance record software
How do I Become an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator?
Individuals working as an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator?
Who Employs Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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