What Do Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Do?

Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Example 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.

Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Responsibilities

• Push other equipment when extra traction or assistance is required.
• Talk to clients and study instructions, plans, or diagrams to establish work requirements.
• Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
• Perform specialized work, using equipment such as pile drivers, dredging rigs, drillers, or concrete pumpers.
• Operate equipment to demolish or remove debris or to remove snow from streets, roads, or parking lots.
• Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.

Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Skills

These are the skills Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment 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.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Related Job Titles

• Equipment Driver
• Utility Tractor Operator
• Mucker Operator
• Back Hoe Operator
• Excavator Operator

Is There Job Demand for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators?

In the United States, there were 371,100 jobs for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.3% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 45,800 new jobs for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 47,300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators are Texas, Florida, and California.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators

The salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators ranges between about $31,320 and $84,160 a year. The median salary is $47,810.

How much do Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
New York	$81,930
Hawaii	$78,470
Illinois	$77,090
New Jersey	$75,150
California	$73,130
Connecticut	$71,060
Alaska	$70,750
Massachusetts	$67,410
Washington	$67,260
Rhode Island	$64,820
Minnesota	$62,770
Wisconsin	$62,540
District of Columbia	$61,320
Nevada	$58,410
Wyoming	$58,270
Indiana	$58,180
Ohio	$56,600
Oregon	$55,800
North Dakota	$55,440
Missouri	$53,990
Pennsylvania	$53,320
Michigan	$52,800
Montana	$51,580
New Hampshire	$50,230
Colorado	$49,750
Maryland	$49,560
Utah	$48,640
Iowa	$48,510
Kentucky	$47,930
Arizona	$47,110
Idaho	$46,810
Louisiana	$46,160
West Virginia	$45,280
New Mexico	$44,900
South Dakota	$44,150
Nebraska	$43,590
Maine	$43,400
Vermont	$42,930
Delaware	$42,820
Virginia	$42,470
Texas	$41,730
Oklahoma	$41,710
Kansas	$41,200
Tennessee	$41,180
Alabama	$40,930
South Carolina	$40,220
Florida	$40,160
North Carolina	$39,990
Mississippi	$38,310
Georgia	$37,580
Arkansas	$36,750

Tools & Technologies Used by Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Windows

Becoming an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator

What education is needed to be an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Are Employed

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons