Excavator backhoe operator vs laydown machine operator

The differences between excavator backhoe operators and laydown machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an excavator backhoe operator, becoming a laydown machine operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an excavator backhoe operator has an average salary of $45,041, which is higher than the $33,663 average annual salary of a laydown machine operator.

The top three skills for an excavator backhoe operator include CDL, safety procedures and asphalt. The most important skills for a laydown machine operator are rig, RAN, and drill pipe.

Excavator backhoe operator vs laydown machine operator overview

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Laydown Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$45,041	$33,663
Hourly rate	$21.65	$16.18
Growth rate	4%	5%
Number of jobs	35,352	53,653
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	High School Diploma, 56%
Average age	43	45
Years of experience	4	2

Excavator backhoe operator vs laydown machine operator salary

Excavator backhoe operators and laydown machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Laydown Machine Operator
Average salary	$45,041	$33,663
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $60,000	Between $26,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between excavator backhoe operator and laydown machine operator education

There are a few differences between an excavator backhoe operator and a laydown machine operator in terms of educational background:

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Laydown Machine Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	High School Diploma, 56%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Excavator backhoe operator vs laydown machine operator demographics

Here are the differences between excavator backhoe operators' and laydown machine operators' demographics:

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Laydown Machine Operator
Average age	43	45
Gender ratio	Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4%	Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 2.5% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 0.9% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between excavator backhoe operator and laydown machine operator duties and responsibilities

Excavator backhoe operator example responsibilities.

General mowing and weed eating.
Maintain park grounds through litter policing, mowing and trimming.
Operate all equipment: backhoe, skidsteer; mowers; tractors; dumptruck; aerators.
Operate machinery equip with shovels, scoops, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
Operate excavator (pipe crew) digging, sloping trenches, digging in trench boxes and around existing underground utilities.
Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, and making winter roads.

Laydown machine operator example responsibilities.

Operate jetco, ditchwitch, and vermer trenchers digging ditch and back filling ditch.
Work the rig floor operating break out tongs, v door, pulling slips and also roll pipe.
Demonstrate proficiency in operation of backhoe, trenchers, boom and dump truck.
Go to drilling rig, laid down drilling pipe and collars and pick up casing.
Rig the machine up and run casing to and from various types of oil rigs.
Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.

Excavator backhoe operator vs laydown machine operator skills

Common excavator backhoe operator skills

CDL, 14%
Safety Procedures, 10%
Asphalt, 10%
OSHA, 10%
Manual Labor, 8%
Plumbing, 8%

Common laydown machine operator skills

Rig, 58%
RAN, 16%
Drill Pipe, 11%
DOT Regulations, 7%
JSA, 5%
Safety Procedures, 4%

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Excavator Backhoe Operator
Excavator Backhoe Operator vs Laydown Machine Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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