Heavy Equipment Operator: A Complete Career Guide (Updated for 2024)
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Constructing a home or office building requires serious muscle from bulldozers and backhoes. You can’t expect to hop in one of these machines and drive them — you need a licensed heavy equipment operator. These professionals are the backbone of construction sites. Do you aspire to be among them?
Here’s your guide to climbing the construction ladder and operating heavy equipment.
What Is Heavy Equipment?
Heavy equipment includes the vehicles you probably won’t see on Main Street or the highway. This machinery class includes heavy-duty vehicles used in construction, mining and other blue-collar professions. Here are some heavy equipment that operators must be familiar with:
- Skid steer loader: This versatile piece of equipment is one of the best on construction sites. A heavy equipment operator could use it for landscaping or site development.Â
- Crane: If you have a tall building, you need a crane operator. This equipment lifts heavy objects from one section to another.Â
- Trencher: Sometimes, construction can’t begin until you get the trencher. This machine digs holes and ditches for cables and pipes.Â
- Bulldozer: Bulldozers are one of the premier machines for heavy equipment operators. You can expect an operating weight between 20,000 to 200,000 pounds with bulldozers.Â
- Forklift: While common in warehouses, you might see forklifts on the construction site. These versatile machines are great for loading and unloading heavy materials.
How Can You Become a Heavy Equipment Operator?
The machines you handle as a heavy equipment operator are vast. So, how can you get in the game and start your career? Here is what you need to do.
Education
Becoming a heavy equipment operator doesn’t need a doctorate or a law degree. Fortunately, you only need a high school diploma or GED to enter this profession. That said, you will need some extra education. The Department of Energy says you may need vocational training and math courses because of how much the profession requires. Automotive mechanic classes are also helpful because you must understand the equipment you operate.
Where can you get heavy equipment training? First, try to find a trade school. These educational institutions help you with specific careers in construction or another field. Another worthwhile option is an apprenticeship. With this path, a professional will take you under their wings and teach you how to use heavy equipment. Apprenticeships could directly lead to jobs, so leave the door open.
Skills
Education is an excellent starting point for your career path. Now, it’s time to focus on the skills necessary to be a heavy equipment operator. This career path requires some directly and indirectly relevant competencies. For example, an indirect skill is physical fitness. Maneuvering these machines requires superior upper-body strength, so you may need to bulk up before boarding the equipment.
There are also some hard skills you need for the job. Automotive maintenance is necessary because you must determine when the machine needs repairs or safety inspections. Shrewd heavy equipment operators can identify when something is wrong with the bulldozer or skid steer loader. Then, they’ll notify the construction manager and begin further inspection for a diagnosis.
Certifications
With education and skills, the final step is to obtain certification. You need a few different accreditations before hopping on the forklift or crane, so finding which one to get is necessary for your career. Most heavy equipment operators get a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Obtaining a CDL requires special skills and knowledge, which may differ based on the state. Check your jurisdiction’s requirements to see what you need to do.
The other certifications depend on what specialization you want within the heavy equipment sector. For example, driving a forklift requires a training course following OSHA guidelines. One good thing about this career path is the numerous ways to advance your career. With crane operator certification and other licenses, you can make yourself more valuable on the jobsite and increase your pay.
Pros of Being a Heavy Equipment Operator
While they have challenging jobs, heavy equipment operators enjoy perks they might not see in other professions. Here are some of the pros of making it your career.
Demand
The worldwide construction industry has a labor shortage, meaning you can find jobs more quickly. Heavy equipment operators benefit from the deficit and have a rosy outlook for the next decade. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says this job market will grow by 4% until 2033, meeting the national average for other industries. You don’t need work experience in a related occupation, making the entry easier.
Like most jobs, the demand depends on where you want to live and work. States with low density and populations might not have burgeoning construction jobs, so you may need to look for more populous states. Texas is an excellent example because it requires nearly 98,000 heavy equipment operators to fulfill demand. Metro areas like Austin are building more housing, so you might find steady work here.
Salary
Wages are critical because they help you pay for food and put a roof over your head. Your salary as a heavy equipment operator heavily depends on where you live and what contracts you sign. Some states can have more lucrative opportunities than others, so keeping a close eye is critical. On a national level, the average heavy equipment professional earns about $22.92 per hour for their base salary.
Another factor in your annual salary is whether you’re a union member. If you join this group, you could have better access to well-paying jobs and benefits. Unions are prevalent nationwide, though their prominence depends on the state. The Midwest and West Coast typically have more union participation, so it’s up to you to choose.
Flexibility
Ultimately, heavy equipment operators don’t have to stay in one place. Most jobs in the construction industry can take you cross-country or to international destinations for work. Imagine you live in northern Michigan and work with other crane operators. Seeing other states requires long drives, but your career could take you to Arizona or Florida for your next project.
Heavy equipment operators also benefit from working on famous buildings. You never know when you’ll drive a bulldozer or trencher when building a new NFL stadium or a corporate office. You get paid to work on these sites, letting you brag to your friends about the cool places you’ve been to. Your decision 20 years ago to start trade school could pay off with incredible benefits later in life.
Reaping the Heavy Equipment Operator Benefits
The construction industry has numerous ways to get your foot in the door. If you want a fun challenge, consider becoming a heavy equipment operator. This niche lets you work with bulldozers, backhoes and other large machines that make the world go round. While education and training are necessary, you could later find lucrative job opportunities and professional development.Â
Originally published 3/22/2023 — Updated 11/26/2024