Median Annual Wage: $39,830
Education: High school diploma or equivalent (71%); Less than high school diploma (23%); Post-secondary certificate (6%)
Projected Growth: Faster than average (15% to 21%)
Related Job Titles: Heavy Equipment Operator; Equipment Operator; Loader Operator; Track Hoe Operator; Excavator Operator; Operator; Dragline Operator; Backhoe Operator; Dragline Oiler; Pit Operator
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators.
More Transportation and Material Moving Careers
- Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
- Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and with efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
- Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
- Lubricate, adjust, or repair machinery and replace parts, such as gears, bearings, or bucket teeth.
- Handle slides, mud, or pit cleanings or maintenance.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators.
- 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.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators.
