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Pile-Driver Operator

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What Do Pile-Driver Operator Do?

Position 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.

Pile-Driver Operator Responsibilities

  • Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
  • Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
  • 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.

Pile-Driver Operator Needed Skills

When polled, Pile-Driver 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.

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

  • Pile Driving Technician
  • Pile Driver Operator
  • Diesel Pile Hammer Operator
  • Pile Driving Operator
  • Hydraulic Press-In Operator

Job Outlook 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. The BLS estimates 500 yearly job openings in this field.

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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.

Pile-Driver Operator Average Salary

The average yearly salary of a Pile-Driver Operator ranges between $33,810 and $100,350.

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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

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Pile-Driver Operators may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • Global positioning system GPS software

Becoming a Pile-Driver Operator

What education is needed to be a Pile-Driver Operator?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Pile-Driver Operator?

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Where Pile-Driver Operators Are Employed

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Pile-Driver Operators work in the following industries:

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Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming a Pile-Driver Operator might also be interested in the following careers:

Career changers with experience as a Pile-Driver Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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