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Excavator vs trenching machine operator

The differences between excavators 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 and a trenching machine operator. Additionally, an excavator has an average salary of $48,403, which is higher than the $39,238 average annual salary of a trenching machine operator.

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

Excavator vs trenching machine operator overview

ExcavatorTrenching Machine Operator
Yearly salary$48,403$39,238
Hourly rate$23.27$18.86
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs52157,719
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 41%High School Diploma, 53%
Average age4343
Years of experience44

Excavator vs trenching machine operator salary

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

ExcavatorTrenching Machine Operator
Average salary$48,403$39,238
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $65,000Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between excavator and trenching machine operator education

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

ExcavatorTrenching Machine Operator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 41%High School Diploma, 53%
Most common majorAnthropologyCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Excavator vs trenching machine operator demographics

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

ExcavatorTrenching Machine Operator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 82.3% Female, 17.7%Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1%
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, 9.2% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 2.5% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between excavator and trenching 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.
  • Show more

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 vs trenching machine operator skills

Common excavator skills
  • Asphalt, 25%
  • CDL, 16%
  • Hand Tools, 14%
  • Plumbing, 10%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Shovels, 6%
Common trenching machine operator skills
  • Ditch, 100%

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