Construction and extraction
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.
Median pay
$59,850
Growth to 2035
+5%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
39,200
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators: 51% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Learn and follow safety regulations.
- Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
- Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
- Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
Also called: Back Hoe Operator · Engineering Equipment Operator · Equipment Operator (EO) · Forklift Operator · Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) · Hot Mix Asphalt Operator · Machine Operator · Motor Grader Operator
Outlook and AI
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators held 489,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 511,800 by 2035 (+5%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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