Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Job description

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 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.

• Learn and follow safety regulations.
• Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
• Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
• Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.

Salary

Construction Equipment Operators with little to no experience tend to make between $31320 and $37230 while the more experienced ones can earn over $63540 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as an Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator is to move to a higher paying state like NY. Right now, the highest paying states for Construction Equipment Operators are NY, HI, IL, NJ and CA.

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

Three other factors that can increase your salary as an Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

Requirements

We asked other Construction Equipment 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.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being an Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator.

What is the job like

65% of Construction Equipment Operators said they were satisfied with their job and 57% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Is this right for me

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.

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