Operating Engineers/Other Construction Equipment Operators
Operating Engineers/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.
You’ll need to be skilled in mechanical knowledge of machines and tools, the english language, public safety and security, operation and control, equipment maintenance, operation monitoring, monitoring, and active listening.
Annual Wage
Entry - $32,762
Mean - $43,054.00
Experienced - $48,200
Hourly Wage
Entry - $16
Mean - $20
Experienced - $23
Vocational training and math courses are useful, and a course in automotive mechanics may be helpful because workers often maintain their equipment. Learning at vocational schools may be beneficial in finding a job. Schools may specialize in a particular brand or type of construction equipment. Some schools incorporate sophisticated simulator training into their courses, allowing beginners to familiarize themselves with the equipment in a virtual environment before operating real machines.
Construction equipment operators often need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to haul their equipment to various job sites. State laws governing CDLs vary. A few states have special licenses for operators of backhoes, loaders, and bulldozers. Some states and cities require pile-driver operators to have a crane license because similar operational concerns apply to both pile-drivers and cranes.
There are 6,400 job openings projected in Texas this year!
