Construction Equip Operator Schools, Salaries, and Job Data
Construction Equip Operators Job Overview
Construction equipment operators shift earth and construction materials at construction and mine sites. They maneuver the equipment to prepare the land for the construction of bridges, roads and buildings. They may also work at oil rigs.
Construction Equip Operators Schools and Degrees
High school courses in science, mechanical drawing and automobile mechanics are useful for those wishing to find a job in this area. Formal training, however, would prepare one best. The Associated General Contractors of America and the International Union of Operating Engineers offer courses that formally train candidates in this vocation. Apprenticeship also helps one gain valuable experience. Programs on apprenticeship comprise of 6,000 hours of instruction, which includes 144 hours of classroom teaching and on-the-job training for the remanding hours. Privately owned vocational schools also extend teachings in the operation of some construction equipment.
Job Requirements
A commercial drivers license is absolutely essential. The requirements to accrue such a license are dependent upon the rules and regulations of each state.
Certification in this vocation helps a construction equipment operator gain the advantage of working across the country. These can be obtained by attending vocational schools. Certifications testify that the particular construction equip operator has the ability and the potential to handle certain kinds of equipment. Such certifications need to be renewed every three to five years.
Construction equip operators need to be physically fit. They need to have good eyesight, hand-eye coordination and depth perception. They also need to be able to work at heights. An aptitude for mechanics and experience are both valuable assets for a construction equipment operator.
Nature of Work
Construction equip operators manage equipment by moving joysticks, operating switches, foot pedals and other levers. They are also required to pave, tamp and surface. Pile driver operators use different kinds of power equipment for executing construction work such as excavating and loading gravel or dirt.
Construction equip operators have to work in outdoor locations and in any kind of weather. Some equipment like pile drivers, tampers and bulldozers can be dangerous at times. Construction equip operators need to strictly follow the procedures and safety practices in order to avoid any chances of accidents. They do not have regular working hours as construction work goes on throughout the day and even at night.
Construction Equip Operators Jobs and Outlook
According to a research done in 2006, construction equip operators held about 494,000 jobs in the US. Employment is the highest in the following industries:
Highway, Street and Bridge Construction
Local Government (OES Designation)
Nonresidential Building Construction
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
Utility System Construction
The mean hourly wage for construction equip operators in the US is about $20.22, while the mean annual wages are around $42,060.
Job Numbers and Growth
About 424,000 construction equip operators are employed nationally. Workers can expect a very high level of unemployment, if history can be used as a guide. In 2006, 7% of employees could not find jobs.
Area Job Conditions
Popular locations for construction equip operators include Fairbanks (Alaska), Charleston (West Virginia), and Prescott (Arizona). Fewer are found in Framingham (Massachusetts), Bloomington (Illinois), and San Francisco (California).
Workers looking for high salaries should look at Chicago (Illinois), New York (New York), and Rockford (Illinois), and should avoid Brownsville (Texas), McAllen (Texas), and Abilene (Texas).
Training and Education
Employees often obtain moderate-term on-the-job training before starting. The percentage of construction equip operators with college degrees is 3%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 20% of the total. Some employees, about 78%, had a high-school education. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.
Part-Time Work and Self-Employment
Part-time construction equip operators are 2% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 6%, work for themselves.
Construction Equip Operators by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
