What You Need to Know About Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator
Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Job Description Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
Daily Life Of an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator
- Check fuel supplies at sites to ensure adequate availability.
- Operate road watering, oiling, or rolling equipment, or street sealing equipment, such as chip spreaders.
- Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
- Select and fasten bulldozer blades or other attachments to tractors, using hitches.
- Perform specialized work, using equipment such as pile drivers, dredging rigs, drillers, or concrete pumpers.
- Operate conveyors to remove grit and debris from digesters.
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Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Skills
When polled, Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Related Job Titles
- Dump Attendant
- Equipment Operator/Laborer
- Sander
- Locomotive Crane Engineer
- Loader Operator/Ground Leader
Is There Job Demand for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators?
In the United States, there were 371,100 jobs for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 45,800 new jobs for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator by 2026. There will be an estimated 47,300 positions for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator are Utah, Nevada, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator
The salary for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators ranges between about $31,320 and $84,160 a year.
Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators who work in Illinois, Hawaii, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,930 |
| Alaska | $70,750 |
| Arizona | $47,110 |
| Arkansas | $36,750 |
| California | $73,130 |
| Colorado | $49,750 |
| Connecticut | $71,060 |
| Delaware | $42,820 |
| District of Columbia | $61,320 |
| Florida | $40,160 |
| Georgia | $37,580 |
| Hawaii | $78,470 |
| Idaho | $46,810 |
| Illinois | $77,090 |
| Indiana | $58,180 |
| Iowa | $48,510 |
| Kansas | $41,200 |
| Kentucky | $47,930 |
| Louisiana | $46,160 |
| Maine | $43,400 |
| Maryland | $49,560 |
| Massachusetts | $67,410 |
| Michigan | $52,800 |
| Minnesota | $62,770 |
| Mississippi | $38,310 |
| Missouri | $53,990 |
| Montana | $51,580 |
| Nebraska | $43,590 |
| Nevada | $58,410 |
| New Hampshire | $50,230 |
| New Jersey | $75,150 |
| New Mexico | $44,900 |
| New York | $81,930 |
| North Carolina | $39,990 |
| North Dakota | $55,440 |
| Ohio | $56,600 |
| Oklahoma | $41,710 |
| Oregon | $55,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,320 |
| Rhode Island | $64,820 |
| South Carolina | $40,220 |
| South Dakota | $44,150 |
| Tennessee | $41,180 |
| Texas | $41,730 |
| Utah | $48,640 |
| Vermont | $42,930 |
| Virginia | $42,470 |
| Washington | $67,260 |
| West Virginia | $45,280 |
| Wisconsin | $62,540 |
| Wyoming | $58,270 |
What Tools do Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
- Maintenance record software
How do I Become an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator?
Are there Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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