What Do Pile-Driver Operator Do?
Occupation 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.
A Day in the Life of a Pile-Driver Operator
- Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- 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.
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Skills Needed to be a Pile-Driver Operator
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.
Types of Pile-Driver Operator Jobs
- Pile Driver Engineer
- Pile Driver Foreman
- Nozzle Operator
- Pile Driving Nozzleman
- Pile Driving Leadsman
Job Opportunities for Pile-Driver Operators
There were about 3,700 jobs for Pile-Driver Operator in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 500 job openings in this field each year.

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.
What is the Average Salary of a Pile-Driver Operator
Pile-Driver Operators make between $33,810 and $100,350 a year.

Pile-Driver Operators who work in Illinois, Massachusetts, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Pile-Driver Operators make in each U.S. state?
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
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
Becoming a Pile-Driver Operator
Learn what Pile-Driver Operator education requirements there are.

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

Where Pile-Driver Operators Work

Pile-Driver Operators work in the following industries:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Pile-Driver Operator may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Pile-Driver Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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