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Pile-Driver Operator

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What Do Pile-Driver Operator Do?

Pile-Driver Operator Job Description Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures, such as buildings, bridges, and piers.

Life As a Pile-Driver Operator

  • Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
  • Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
  • Drive pilings to provide support for buildings or other structures, using heavy equipment with a pile driver head.
  • Move hand and foot levers of hoisting equipment to position piling leads, hoist piling into leads, and position hammers over pilings.
  • Move levers and turn valves to activate power hammers, or to raise and lower drophammers that drive piles to required depths.

Things a Pile-Driver Operator Should Know How to Do

When polled, Pile-Driver 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.

Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

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.

Types of Pile-Driver Operator Jobs

  • Nozzle Operator
  • Diesel Pile Hammer Operator
  • Pile Driving Operator
  • Pile Driving Nozzleman
  • Pile Driving Superintendent

Job Opportunities for Pile-Driver Operators

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 3,700 jobs in the United States for Pile-Driver Operator. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 500 new jobs for Pile-Driver Operator by 2026. The BLS estimates 500 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Pile-Driver Operator are Oregon, Florida, and Maryland. Watch out if you plan on working in Washington, Pennsylvania, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Pile-Driver Operator

The average yearly salary of a Pile-Driver Operator ranges between $33,810 and $100,350.

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Pile-Driver Operators who work in Illinois, Massachusetts, or California, make the highest salaries.

How much do Pile-Driver Operators make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
California $80,030
Florida $48,110
Georgia $45,900
Illinois $86,060
Louisiana $51,020
Maryland $56,230
Massachusetts $80,110
Michigan $72,440
Minnesota $74,250
North Carolina $40,540
Oregon $72,290
Pennsylvania $72,370
Rhode Island $61,520
South Carolina $43,340
Texas $59,440
Virginia $52,170
Washington $74,570

Tools & Technologies Used by Pile-Driver Operators

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Pile-Driver Operators may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • Global positioning system GPS software

How do I Become a Pile-Driver Operator?

What education is needed to be a Pile-Driver Operator?

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What work experience do I need to become a Pile-Driver Operator?

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Where Pile-Driver Operators Are Employed

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The table below shows the approximate number of Pile-Driver Operators employed by various industries.

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Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Pile-Driver Operator may also be interested in:

Career changers with experience as a Pile-Driver Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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