Excavator backhoe operator vs payloader operator

The differences between excavator backhoe operators and payloader operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an excavator backhoe operator and a payloader operator. Additionally, an excavator backhoe operator has an average salary of $45,041, which is higher than the $36,148 average annual salary of a payloader operator.

The top three skills for an excavator backhoe operator include CDL, safety procedures and asphalt. The most important skills for a payloader operator are mission planning, UAS, and UAV.

Excavator backhoe operator vs payloader operator overview

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Payloader Operator
Yearly salary	$45,041	$36,148
Hourly rate	$21.65	$17.38
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	35,352	30,099
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Excavator backhoe operator vs payloader operator salary

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

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Payloader Operator
Average salary	$45,041	$36,148
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $60,000	Between $24,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between excavator backhoe operator and payloader operator education

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

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Payloader Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common major	Business	Aviation
Most common college	-	-

Excavator backhoe operator vs payloader operator demographics

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

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Payloader Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4%	Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6%
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, 9.2% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 2.5% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between excavator backhoe operator and payloader 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.

Payloader operator example responsibilities.

Perform payload operations and flight engineer duties including creating and managing Sigact (significant acts) PowerPoint presentations.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Perform both day and nighttime air reconnaissance missions.
Launch and re-cover the UAV using militarize radio controller.
Protect surface combat units and supply convoys in two war zones.
Prepare and conduct air reconnaissance surveillance, targeting and acquisition missions.

Excavator backhoe operator vs payloader operator skills

Common excavator backhoe operator skills

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

Common payloader operator skills

Mission Planning, 40%
UAS, 23%
UAV, 14%
Flight Operations, 10%
Troubleshoot, 8%
Combat, 5%

Excavator Backhoe Operator vs. similar jobs

Excavator Backhoe Operator related careers

Excavator Backhoe Operator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Transportation Industry
Excavator Backhoe Operator
Excavator Backhoe Operator vs Payloader Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs