Bucket operators use a machine that lifts a bucket into the air to safely reach heights above the capacity of a ladder and carry out various maintenance tasks. They are responsible for clearing branches and shrubs from the way of right-of-ways or road signs. But most commonly, their work is related to the safekeeping of electrical wires.
Working as a bucket operator, you will not only operate a bucket truck but other pruning tools as well, such as chain saws, chippers, and the like. Occasionally you might be required to climb trees, but mostly you will be doing the trimming from the bucket.
You need no specialized education to take on this job other than a GED and a driver's license or CDL license. Being physically fit is an important requirement as you will need to stand for long stretches at a time and endure uncontrolled weather conditions. You will be working with hazardous equipment and potentially dangerous situations, so having an extended attention span is also essential.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a Bucket Operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $19.37 an hour? That's $40,298 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 9% and produce 115,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
There are certain skills that many Bucket Operators have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed Communication skills, Coordination and Visual ability.
If you're interested in becoming a Bucket Operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 7.6% of Bucket Operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 0.6% of Bucket Operators have master's degrees. Even though some Bucket Operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a Bucket Operator. When we researched the most common majors for a Bucket Operator, we found that they most commonly earn High School Diploma degrees or Diploma degrees. Other degrees that we often see on Bucket Operator resumes include Associate Degree degrees or Bachelor's Degree degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a Bucket Operator. In fact, many Bucket Operator jobs require experience in a role such as Foreman. Meanwhile, many Bucket Operators also have previous career experience in roles such as Groundsman or Machine Operator.