Construction & Extraction
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Also called: Back Hoe Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator (EO), Forklift Operator
US median pay
$59,850
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4.6%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
39,200
489,500 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.
- Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operation and Control4.1/5
- Operations Monitoring3.2/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.2/5
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Repairing2.9/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
Knowledge
- Mechanical3.6/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.1/5
- Mathematics2.8/5
- Administration and Management2.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma82%
- Some college16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.