Life As a Pile-Driver Operator
Pile-Driver Operator Example 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.
A Day in the Life of a Pile-Driver Operator
- Move hand and foot levers of hoisting equipment to position piling leads, hoist piling into leads, and position hammers over pilings.
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- 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.
- Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
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Things a Pile-Driver Operator Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Pile-Driver Operators say are important on the job.
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.
Related Job Titles
- Hydraulic Press-In Operator
- Hoisting Pile Driving Engineer
- Pile Driver Foreman
- Pile Driver Operator
- Pile Driving Superintendent
Job Opportunities for Pile-Driver Operators
In the United States, there were 3,700 jobs for Pile-Driver Operator in 2016. 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. There will be an estimated 500 positions for Pile-Driver Operator per year.

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.
Salary for a Pile-Driver Operator
The typical yearly salary for Pile-Driver Operators is somewhere between $33,810 and $100,350.

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 |
What Tools do Pile-Driver Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Pile-Driver Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Global positioning system GPS software
How do I Become a Pile-Driver Operator?
What education is needed to be a Pile-Driver Operator?

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

Who Employs Pile-Driver Operators?

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

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Pile-Driver Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Pile-Driver Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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