Excavator backhoe operator vs trenching machine operator

The differences between excavator backhoe operators and trenching machine 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 trenching machine operator. Additionally, an excavator backhoe operator has an average salary of $45,041, which is higher than the $39,238 average annual salary of a trenching machine operator.

The top three skills for an excavator backhoe operator include CDL, safety procedures and asphalt. The most important skills for a trenching machine operator are ditch, , and .

Excavator backhoe operator vs trenching machine operator overview

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Trenching Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$45,041	$39,238
Hourly rate	$21.65	$18.86
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	35,352	57,719
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Excavator backhoe operator vs trenching machine operator salary

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

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Trenching Machine Operator
Average salary	$45,041	$39,238
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $60,000	Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between excavator backhoe operator and trenching machine operator education

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

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Trenching Machine Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Excavator backhoe operator vs trenching machine operator demographics

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

	Excavator Backhoe Operator	Trenching Machine Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4%	Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1%
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 trenching 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.

Trenching machine operator example responsibilities.

Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.
Perform repair and preventive maintenance on machinery including cleaning, oiling and adjusting.

Excavator backhoe operator vs trenching machine operator skills

Common excavator backhoe operator skills

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

Common trenching machine operator skills

Ditch, 100%

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Excavator Backhoe Operator
Excavator Backhoe Operator vs Trenching Machine Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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