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Pile Driver Operators: 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.
What Tasks Do Pile Driver Operators Take On?
The core tasks performed by pile driver operators include:
- 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.
- Drive pilings to provide support for buildings or other structures, using heavy equipment with a pile driver head.
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful pile driver operators draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Diesel Pile Hammer Operator
- Driving Inspector
- Driving Operator
- Hoisting Pile Driving Engineer
- Hydraulic Pile Hammer Operator
- Hydraulic Press-In Operator
- Nozzle Operator
- Pile Driver
How Many Pile Driver Operators Are There?
The U.S. employs around 683,984 pile driver operators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -2.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Pile Driver Operators Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $31,596 |
| Hourly median | $15.19 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $25,123 |
| 75th percentile | $38,069 |
| 90th percentile | $44,542 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Pile Driver Operators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $125,050 |
| Massachusetts | $113,360 |
| California | $105,950 |
| Washington | $101,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,160 |
| Alaska | $87,630 |
| Maryland | $77,990 |
| Texas | $66,070 |
| Louisiana | $58,980 |
| South Carolina | $55,960 |
| Florida | $54,750 |
| Virginia | $49,960 |
| Indiana | $49,330 |
| Georgia | $46,710 |
| North Carolina | $44,990 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for pile driver operators vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $113,753 | 3.6% | 0.53 |
| New England | $113,360 | 8.9% | 3.07 |
| Far Western US | $103,710 | 36.3% | 4.00 |
| Southwest | $66,070 | 10.9% | 0.98 |
| Southeast | $54,298 | 37.9% | 2.91 |
| Great Lakes | $49,330 | 2.4% | 1.01 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $133,080 | 130 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $125,070 | 40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $118,960 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $114,470 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $103,790 | 260 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $87,630 | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $74,940 | |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $67,980 | 150 |
Top Industries Employing Pile Driver Operators
The largest employers of pile driver operators work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 2,890 | $71,760 |
Below are examples of industries where pile driver operators work:
Software Pile Driver Operators Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for pile driver 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
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Pile Driver Operators
Most pile driver operators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Supplemental)
- Highway Maintenance Workers (Supplemental)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Primary-Long)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (Primary-Short)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for pile driver operators typically earn programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
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: 47-2072.00 (Pile Driver Operators).
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