Pile-Driver Operators: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Pile-Driver Operators

Pile-Driver Operators 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.

Salary
$71880
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Pile-Driver Operators 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.

  • 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.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
Read more about what does a Pile-Driver Operator really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$64360 per year

Average hourly wage
$31 per hour


Pile-Driver Operators with little to no experience tend to make between $33810 and $43440 while the more experienced ones can earn over $85520 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
IL $41 $86,060
MA $39 $80,110
CA $38 $80,030
WA $36 $74,570
MN $36 $74,250

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Pile-Driver Operator is to move to a higher paying state like IL. Right now, the highest paying states for Pile-Driver Operators are IL, MA, CA, WA and MN.

However, a higher pay at IL doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at IL might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Pile-Driver Operator is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
No degree required

We asked other Pile-Driver Operators what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by a Post-Secondary Certificate.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
Read more about how to become a Pile-Driver Operator and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Pile-Driver Operator.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
63%

Is this job meaningful
56%


63% of Pile-Driver Operators said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Organizers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.



Learn more about Pile-Driver Operators

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Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Pile-Driver Operators job description, Pile-Driver Operators salary, Pile-Driver Operators information, what is the job of a Pile-Driver Operator like, pros and cons about Pile-Driver Operators, colleges and universities for Pile-Driver Operators, is Pile-Driver Operators the right career for me, careers in Construction and Extraction

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Crane Operator, Diesel Pile Hammer Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Hoisting Pile Driving Engineer, Hydraulic Pile Hammer Operator, Hydraulic Press-In Operator, Nozzle Operator, Operating Engineer, Pile Driver, Pile Driver Engineer

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