Jobs / Physical work / 47-2073.00

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.

US jobs
478,090
Median wage
$59,850 a year
Job family
Physical work

Can agents do the work of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Physical work:

  • Task levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.
  • Project levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.

Unexplored territory

No benchmark in this atlas covers this work yet.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • 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.
  • Operate tractors or bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, or building roadways or parking lots.
  • Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
Other job titles for this occupation (80)

Back Hoe Operator · Engineering Equipment Operator · Equipment Operator (EO) · Forklift Operator · Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) · Hot Mix Asphalt Operator · Machine Operator · Motor Grader Operator · Operating Engineer · Track Hoe Operator · Angle Dozer Operator · Asphalt Roller Operator · Backhoe Operator · Blade Grader Operator · Blade Operator · Bulldozer Engineer · Bulldozer Operator · Bush Hog Operator · Cable Engineer · Car Runner · Catshovel Driver · Clamshell Engineer · Construction Backhoe Operator · Construction Bulldozer Operator · Construction Engineer · Construction Equipment Operator · Construction Shovel Operator · Crane Engineer · Derrick Engineer · Digging Machine Operator · Ditcher Operator · Ditching Machine Engineer · Ditching Machine Operating Engineer · Ditching Machine Operator · Dragline Engineer · Dump Attendant · Elevating Grader Operator · Equipment Driver · Equipment Operating Engineer · Excavator · Form Grader Operator · Gang Mower Operator · Gradall Operator · Grader · Grader Operator · Grading Machine Operator · Heater Planer Operator · Heavy Construction Equipment Mechanic · Heavy Construction Equipment Operator · Heavy Equipment Operating Engineer · Heavy Machinery Operator · Heavy Road Construction Equipment Operator · Hoe Runner · Hoisting Engineer · Hydraulic Hammer Operator · Land Leveler · Landfill Grader · Landfill Heavy Equipment Operator (Landfill HEO) · Lift Slab Operator · Locomotive Crane Engineer · Maintainer Operator · Maintenance Operator · Muck Operator · Mucker Operator · Mucking Machine Operator · Power Grader Operator · Power Shovel Engineer · Road Equipment Operator · Road Grader · Road Grader Operator · Road Hogger Operator · Road Machine Operator · Road Machine Runner · Road Roller Engineer · Rooter Operator · Rotary Soil Stabilizer · Sander · Sanitary Landfill Operator · Scarifier Operator · Scrap Drop Engineer