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Pile Driver Operators in Louisiana
Want to work as a Pile Driver Operators in Louisiana? Below are the key facts. 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 Make in Louisiana?
For a pile driver operators working in Louisiana, wages run about $58,980 per year (or about $28.36/hour).Earnings range from $50,930 at the 10th percentile to $61,520 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,930 | $24.49 |
| 25th percentile | $55,860 | $26.86 |
| Median (50th) | $58,980 | $28.36 |
| 75th percentile | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| 90th percentile | $61,520 | $29.58 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Louisiana relative to the national average — is 4.69, suggesting that pile driver operators are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, pile driver operators earn a median of $31,596 per year ($15.19/hour), exceeding the Louisiana median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 683,984 pile driver operators nationwide. In Louisiana alone, about 180 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 130 pile driver operators.
Top Louisiana Metros for Pile Driver Operators
The metro areas below employ the most pile driver operators in Louisiana.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 110 | $59,000 |
Top States for Pile Driver Operators Employment
View the states that employ the most pile driver operators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 790 |
| Florida | 560 |
| Texas | 270 |
| Massachusetts | 220 |
| Louisiana | 180 |
| Virginia | 130 |
| Alaska | 110 |
| Georgia | 70 |
| Indiana | 60 |
| New Jersey | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | 30 |
Highest-Paying States for Pile Driver Operators
These states pay the most for pile driver operators.
| 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 |
Skills
The most important pile driver operators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for pile driver operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Pile Driver Operators typically:
- 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.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Processing Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
Related Careers
Related occupations to pile driver operators include:
- Construction Laborers
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Highway Maintenance Workers
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Also Known 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, Pile Driver Engineer, Pile Driver Operator, Pile Driving Inspector, Pile Driving Leadsman, Pile Driving Nozzleman, Pile Driving Operator, Pile Driving Technician.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-2072.00