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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator

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What is an Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator?

Example of Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator Job Operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets, to excavate and load loose materials.

Life As an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator

  • Adjust dig face angles for varying overburden depths and set lengths.
  • Drive machines to work sites.
  • Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
  • Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
  • Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and with efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
  • Lubricate, adjust, or repair machinery and replace parts, such as gears, bearings, or bucket teeth.

Things an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator Should Know How to Do

These are the skills Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators say are the most useful in their careers:

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.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

  • Tram Operator
  • Steam Shovel Operator
  • Pit Operator
  • Excavator
  • Backhoe Operator

Job Demand for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators

In the United States, there were 50,600 jobs for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,100 new jobs for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator by 2026. The BLS estimates 6,100 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator are Utah, Texas, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Maine, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator Average Salary

The typical yearly salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators is somewhere between $29,580 and $74,460.

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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators who work in Wyoming, Alaska, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $41,620
Alaska $73,380
Arizona $48,340
Arkansas $50,540
California $65,510
Colorado $53,310
Connecticut $61,480
Delaware $50,000
District of Columbia $51,710
Florida $39,720
Georgia $40,020
Hawaii $56,090
Idaho $44,000
Illinois $50,970
Indiana $44,830
Iowa $44,740
Kansas $48,120
Kentucky $42,340
Louisiana $44,290
Maine $43,070
Maryland $50,910
Massachusetts $59,990
Michigan $46,830
Minnesota $55,870
Mississippi $40,960
Missouri $51,130
Montana $47,920
Nebraska $40,950
Nevada $62,390
New Hampshire $44,590
New Jersey $71,690
New Mexico $45,190
New York $72,400
North Carolina $41,940
North Dakota $62,300
Ohio $42,330
Oklahoma $44,060
Oregon $48,920
Pennsylvania $41,800
Rhode Island $52,480
South Carolina $49,240
South Dakota $40,220
Tennessee $39,740
Texas $39,500
Utah $47,180
Vermont $41,290
Virginia $42,710
Washington $53,930
West Virginia $49,550
Wisconsin $54,020
Wyoming $71,730

Tools & Technologies Used by Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Google Gmail

How do I Become an Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operator?

What education or degrees do I need to become an Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators Work?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Are you already one of the many Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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