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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.

Alabama

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anniston$34,000130+20%
Auburn$28,000220+114%
Birmingham$36,0002,310+68%
Decatur$39,000240+91%
Dothan$35,00090-36%
Florence$33,000170+45%
Gadsden$28,000160+114%
Huntsville$33,000460-13%
Mobile$32,000790+70%
Montgomery$28,000570+32%
Tuscaloosa$33,000570+162%

Alaska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anchorage$62,0001,010+148%
Fairbanks$63,000420+483%

Arizona

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Flagstaff$45,000180+41%
Kingman$41,000260+120%
Phoenix$44,0008,300+68%
Prescott$42,000680+365%
Tucson$40,0001,560+62%

Arkansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fayetteville$32,000700+39%
Fort Smith$33,000610+109%
Hot Springs$28,000100+21%
Jonesboro$27,000140+24%
Little Rock$32,0001,170+32%
Pine Bluff$34,00070-5%

California

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bakersfield$51,0001,210+76%
Chico$48,000150-9%
El Centro$48,000230+95%
Fresno$61,000800-8%
Madera$52,00080-2%
Merced$43,000160+20%
Modesto$53,000250-40%
Napa$66,000200+32%
Oakland$69,0002,960+8%
Oxnard$61,000960+24%
Redding$53,000410+161%
Riverside$61,0004,370+29%
Sacramento$62,0001,990-15%
Salinas$58,000180-54%
San Diego$61,0002,580-27%
San Francisco$70,000770-71%
San Jose$62,000600-75%
San Luis Obispo$53,000320+32%
Santa Ana$68,0002,100-48%
Santa Barbara$66,000420-1%
Santa Cruz$59,00090-58%
Santa Rosa$69,000630+35%
Stockton$63,000490-10%
Vallejo$62,000370+22%
Visalia$43,000190-43%
Yuba City$64,000170+95%

Colorado

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boulder$43,000180-56%
Colorado Springs$38,000780+20%
Denver$44,0003,380+2%
Fort Collins$43,000390+30%
Grand Junction$38,000330+150%
Greeley$45,000740+313%
Pueblo$40,000220+77%

Connecticut

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bridgeport$62,000720-37%
Danbury$56,000230+36%
Hartford$52,0001,160-24%
New Haven$55,000570-21%
Norwich$50,000240-22%

Delaware

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Dover$37,000230+81%
Wilmington$49,0001,030+20%

District of Columbia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Washington$45,0004,650-24%

Florida

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cape Coral$34,000920+72%
Deltona$37,000600+54%
Fort Lauderdale$38,000990-49%
Fort Walton Beach$32,000140-23%
Gainesville$30,000170-40%
Jacksonville$33,0001,380-13%
Lakeland$31,000800+62%
Miami$43,0001,800-31%
Naples$41,000420+41%
Ocala$32,000520+126%
Orlando$35,0002,260-19%
Palm Bay$34,000400-20%
Palm Coast$37,00040+49%
Panama City$32,000310+90%
Pensacola$30,000390+4%
Port St Lucie$34,000560+78%
Punta Gorda$37,000200+125%
Sarasota$31,000880+30%
Sebastian$32,000100-9%
Tallahassee$33,000270-34%
Tampa$32,0003,240+0%
West Palm Beach$36,0001,400-1%

Georgia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$33,000130-9%
Athens$33,000190+6%
Atlanta$34,0006,610+5%
Augusta$37,000440-16%
Brunswick$31,000190+98%
Columbus$31,000330+23%
Dalton$30,000100-46%
Gainesville$32,000450+170%
Hinesville$42,00050+93%
Rome$35,000150+85%
Savannah$30,000330-12%
Valdosta$36,000130+0%
Warner Robins$32,000120+5%

Hawaii

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Honolulu$71,0001,280+12%

Idaho

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boise$36,000720+4%
Coeur Dalene$39,000310+144%
Idaho Falls$40,000180+66%
Lewiston$44,000110+127%
Pocatello$42,000100+52%

Illinois

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Champaign$50,000180-21%
Chicago$75,0006,430-37%
Decatur$78,00060-44%
Kankakee$82,00080-5%
Peoria$57,000320-26%
Rockford$67,000290-24%
Springfield$59,000190-25%

Indiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$42,000100+12%
Bloomington$48,000480+195%
Columbus$53,00070-27%
Elkhart$55,000430+34%
Evansville$46,000560+27%
Fort Wayne$44,000650+20%
Gary$61,000890+23%
Kokomo$34,00060-24%
Lafayette$42,000320+77%
Michigan City$65,000140+44%
Muncie$40,000110+6%
South Bend$46,000280-18%
Terre Haute$46,000130-21%

Iowa

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cedar Rapids$41,000400+19%
Davenport$59,000430-8%
Des Moines$47,0001,150+35%
Dubuque$46,000150+27%
Iowa City$35,000130-24%
Sioux City$39,000200+18%
Waterloo$42,000470+127%

Kansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawrence$39,000240+133%
Topeka$39,000710+161%
Wichita$33,0001,030+30%

Kentucky

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bowling Green$39,000240+79%
Elizabethtown$38,00090-9%
Lexington$39,000960+54%
Louisville$41,0001,940+19%
Owensboro$39,000250+126%

Louisiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Alexandria$31,000570+308%
Baton Rouge$36,0001,760+83%
Houma$37,000630+172%
Lafayette$33,000640+76%
Lake Charles$35,000400+91%
Monroe$39,000260+38%
New Orleans$38,0001,920+43%
Shreveport$33,000520+17%

Maine

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bangor$35,000380+152%
Lewiston$34,000150+33%
Portland$34,000640+24%

Maryland

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Baltimore$42,0003,210-7%
Bethesda$45,0001,010-33%
Cumberland$38,000130+65%
Hagerstown$40,000570+135%
Salisbury$36,000130+7%

Massachusetts

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Barnstable Town$43,00090-63%
Boston$64,0002,060-55%
Brockton$65,000320+48%
Framingham$55,000200-51%
Haverhill$52,000130-30%
Lawrence$53,00080-40%
Leominster$54,000140+22%
New Bedford$53,000120-21%
Springfield$56,000300-61%
Taunton$68,000100-5%
Worcester$58,000470-26%

Michigan

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ann Arbor$41,000220-48%
Battle Creek$44,000170+52%
Bay City$38,00060-22%
Detroit$51,0001,570-16%
Flint$55,000240-30%
Grand Rapids$42,000700-29%
Holland$43,000130-48%
Jackson$44,000100-17%
Kalamazoo$41,000150-56%
Lansing$42,0004900%
Monroe$54,000130+47%
Niles$45,000160+10%
Saginaw$44,000140-23%
Warren$51,0001,560-49%

Minnesota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Duluth$48,000910+187%
Minneapolis$60,0004,460-6%
Rochester$45,000360+60%
St Cloud$40,000430+72%

Mississippi

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Gulfport$33,000440+64%
Hattiesburg$30,000180+36%
Jackson$30,0001,210+85%

Missouri

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Columbia$43,000490+148%
Jefferson City$51,000300+84%
Joplin$47,000180-7%
Kansas City$48,0004,240+55%
Springfield$38,000410-18%
St Joseph$49,000260+126%
St Louis$53,0003,530-2%

Montana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Billings$43,000450+131%
Great Falls$39,000160+110%
Missoula$37,000330+176%

Nebraska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lincoln$35,000520+26%
Omaha$36,0001,710+41%

Nevada

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Carson City$52,00030-49%
Las Vegas$55,0002,240-9%
Reno$51,0001,060+100%

New Hampshire

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Manchester$39,000140-46%
Nashua$44,000180-48%
Portsmouth$48,00070-47%
Rochester$38,000140+6%

New Jersey

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Atlantic City$72,000220-41%
Camden$60,000620-56%
Edison$57,0001,570-43%
Newark$58,0001,650-38%
Ocean City$50,000100+7%
Trenton$52,000200-64%
Vineland$53,000200+50%

New Mexico

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albuquerque$35,0001,270+24%
Farmington$43,000650+438%
Las Cruces$30,000340+136%
Santa Fe$33,000150+1%

New York

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$49,0001,100-4%
Binghamton$58,000250-4%
Buffalo$50,000970-31%
Elmira$44,00050-36%
Glens Falls$38,000210+73%
Ithaca$40,000100+4%
Kingston$46,000280+101%
Nassau$66,0002,520-24%
New York$83,0005,220-62%
Poughkeepsie$54,000920+50%
Rochester$44,000850-35%
Syracuse$49,000570-29%
Utica$48,000280-12%

North Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Asheville$32,000620+37%
Burlington$31,000120-13%
Charlotte$33,0002,770+18%
Durham$32,000550-22%
Fayetteville$32,000320+6%
Goldsboro$29,00070-17%
Greensboro$34,000700-28%
Greenville$32,000260+53%
Hickory$32,000430+5%
Jacksonville$32,000140+53%
Raleigh$33,0001,620+20%
Wilmington$34,000390+8%
Winston Salem$31,000760+38%

North Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bismarck$36,000380+190%
Fargo$37,000530+85%
Grand Forks$38,000300+172%

Ohio

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Akron$49,000570-35%
Canton$44,000420-5%
Cincinnati$43,0002,460-11%
Cleveland$57,0002,050-27%
Columbus$44,0001,520-39%
Dayton$46,000640-37%
Lima$55,00080-34%
Mansfield$48,000130+9%
Sandusky$51,00060-23%
Springfield$47,00090-16%
Toledo$54,000600-26%
Youngstown$48,000450-25%

Oklahoma

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawton$32,00080-3%
Oklahoma City$35,0001,000-33%
Tulsa$34,000970-15%

Oregon

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bend$38,000410+152%
Corvallis$37,00040-41%
Eugene$44,000300-20%
Medford$41,000380+87%
Portland$53,0002,200-20%
Salem$45,000370-2%

Pennsylvania

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Allentown$51,000790-10%
Altoona$36,000100-28%
Erie$38,000190-39%
Harrisburg$45,000420-49%
Johnstown$45,000120-9%
Lancaster$41,000750+24%
Lebanon$41,00060-43%
Philadelphia$54,0003,640-27%
Pittsburgh$47,0003,960+31%
Reading$42,000410-1%
Scranton$47,000840+26%
State College$47,000420+222%
Williamsport$43,000100-14%
York$40,000910+99%

Rhode Island

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Providence$59,000760-49%

South Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$32,00080-43%
Charleston$33,000610-19%
Columbia$31,0001,130+23%
Florence$29,000190-6%
Greenville$30,000600-24%
Myrtle Beach$34,000530+80%
Sumter$29,000210+173%

South Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Rapid City$35,000430+193%
Sioux Falls$37,000410+19%

Tennessee

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Chattanooga$35,000350-42%
Clarksville$38,000230+28%
Cleveland$35,00090+15%
Jackson$32,000120-10%
Johnson City$28,00060-66%
Kingsport$29,000300+6%
Knoxville$33,000800-8%
Memphis$36,000930-43%
Morristown$31,000160+50%
Nashville$35,0002,070+2%

Texas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Abilene$25,000420+189%
Amarillo$31,000340+39%
Austin$32,0003,010+49%
Beaumont$35,000730+84%
Brownsville$24,000350+14%
College Station$30,000300+63%
Corpus Christi$31,0001,170+162%
Dallas$35,0004,560-18%
El Paso$28,000550-19%
Fort Worth$33,0003,050+34%
Houston$33,00012,560+83%
Killeen$28,000440+49%
Laredo$36,000400+101%
Longview$32,000750+230%
Lubbock$32,000200-33%
Mcallen$26,000550-2%
Midland$35,000430+176%
Odessa$34,000420+221%
San Angelo$30,000160+76%
San Antonio$30,0003,210+44%
Sherman$35,00040-55%
Texarkana$29,000150+19%
Tyler$30,000220+0%
Victoria$32,000390+268%
Waco$30,000310+32%
Wichita Falls$34,000130-3%

Utah

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Logan$33,000110+5%
Ogden$38,000750+47%
Provo$37,0001,150+175%
Salt Lake City$36,0001,770+7%
St George$41,000360+225%

Vermont

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Burlington$39,000350+29%

Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Blacksburg$29,000170+19%
Charlottesville$38,000490+116%
Danville$30,00090+18%
Harrisonburg$32,000130+4%
Lynchburg$28,000290+18%
Richmond$35,0001,910+21%
Roanoke$34,000410+3%
Virginia Beach$36,0001,970-1%
Winchester$35,000260+115%

Washington

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bellingham$60,000250+31%
Bremerton$47,000280+40%
Kennewick$41,000130-40%
Longview$56,000150+109%
Mount Vernon$58,00070-31%
Olympia$49,000380+67%
Seattle$56,0005,010+31%
Spokane$49,000560+5%
Tacoma$60,0001,230+77%
Wenatchee$45,000180+102%
Yakima$45,000160-17%

West Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Charleston$40,0001,860+412%
Huntington$46,000700+151%
Morgantown$35,000380+260%
Parkersburg$33,000430+161%
Weirton$37,000160+69%
Wheeling$36,000430+189%

Wisconsin

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Appleton$57,000320+14%
Eau Claire$50,000310+69%
Fond$51,000210+112%
Green Bay$54,000550+30%
Janesville$53,000210+37%
La Crosse$45,000110-32%
Madison$56,000570-34%
Milwaukee$57,0001,970-12%
Oshkosh$41,000230+13%
Racine$48,000500+171%
Sheboygan$51,000130-2%
Wausau$49,000120-24%

Wyoming

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Casper$38,000190+125%
Cheyenne$40,000170+74%

Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this construction equip operator schools and jobs info.

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