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What Do Pile-Driver Operator Do?
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 Do Pile-Driver Operators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- 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.
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Pile-Driver Operator Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Pile-Driver Operators say are important on the job.
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.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Hoisting Pile Driving Engineer
- Pile Driving Leadsman
- Pile Driving Technician
- Pile Driving Inspector
- Pile Driving Nozzleman
Are There Job Opportunities for Pile-Driver Operators?
In the United States, there were 3,700 jobs for Pile-Driver Operator in 2016. 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.
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.
Average Pile-Driver Operators Salary
The average yearly salary of a Pile-Driver Operator ranges between $33,810 and $100,350.
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 |
What Tools & Technology do Pile-Driver Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Pile-Driver Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Global positioning system GPS software
How to Become a Pile-Driver Operator
Learn what Pile-Driver Operator education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Pile-Driver Operator?
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References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
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