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Excavator vs laydown machine operator

The differences between excavators 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, becoming a laydown machine operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an excavator has an average salary of $48,403, which is higher than the $33,663 average annual salary of a laydown machine operator.

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

Excavator vs laydown machine operator overview

ExcavatorLaydown Machine Operator
Yearly salary$48,403$33,663
Hourly rate$23.27$16.18
Growth rate4%5%
Number of jobs52153,653
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 41%High School Diploma, 56%
Average age4345
Years of experience42

Excavator vs laydown machine operator salary

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

ExcavatorLaydown Machine Operator
Average salary$48,403$33,663
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $65,000Between $26,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between excavator and laydown machine operator education

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

ExcavatorLaydown Machine Operator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 41%High School Diploma, 56%
Most common majorAnthropologyBusiness
Most common college--

Excavator vs laydown machine operator demographics

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

ExcavatorLaydown Machine Operator
Average age4345
Gender ratioMale, 82.3% Female, 17.7%Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage2%2%

Differences between excavator and laydown machine operator duties and responsibilities

Excavator example responsibilities.

  • Lead excavation crews in underground plumbing jobs.
  • cat d6t tremble gps dozer.
  • Determine GPS coordinates on site.
  • Install natural gas pipeline, run a excuvator to dig ditch and tie in pipe.
  • Perform shovel tests, artifact identification and excavations.
  • Assist graduate and doctoral researchers on archaeological excavations of ancient Maya ruins.
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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.
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Excavator vs laydown machine operator skills

Common excavator skills
  • Asphalt, 25%
  • CDL, 16%
  • Hand Tools, 14%
  • Plumbing, 10%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Shovels, 6%
Common laydown machine operator skills
  • Rig, 58%
  • RAN, 16%
  • Drill Pipe, 11%
  • DOT Regulations, 7%
  • JSA, 5%
  • Safety Procedures, 4%

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