How to hire an excavator operator

How to hire an excavator operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step excavator operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an excavator operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new excavator operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an excavator operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an excavator operator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An excavator operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, excavator operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of excavator operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Excavator Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Excavator Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$15-29
   Equipment Operator/Labour	Heavy equipment operators control and drive construction equipment. The operators operate heavy equipment, including backhoes, bulldozers, and lift... Show more	$12-20
   Heavy Equipment Operator	Heavy equipment operators are skilled workers who are trained to handle heavy equipment. They are usually in the construction industry... Show more	$12-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • OSHA
   • Backhoe
   • Manual Labor
   • Asphalt
   • Plumbing
   • Excavations
   • Ladders
   • Loaders
   • Hand Tools
   • Dozer
   • Underground Utilities
   • Construction Equipment
   • Dump Truck

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Experience in operating heavy equipment including excavators, front end loaders, skid loaders, tractors, etc.
   • Obtain CDL with Hazmat and tanker endorsements.
   • Create safe slopes and proper barricading during excavations.
   • Locate under grind utilitys via blue print GPS mapdata.
   • Position is a laborer working on the mowing crew.
   • Dig safe bell holes that meet osha standards and company policy standards

   More excavator operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the excavator operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. An excavator operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an excavator operator in Oklahoma may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level excavator operator. Additionally, an excavator operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average excavator operator salary

   $46,102yearly

   $22.16 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level excavator operator salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average excavator operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$57,289	$28
   2	New York	$51,922	$25
   3	Ohio	$49,028	$24
   4	Colorado	$46,460	$22
   5	California	$45,911	$22
   6	West Virginia	$44,922	$22
   7	North Dakota	$44,403	$21
   8	Minnesota	$43,704	$21
   9	Utah	$43,671	$21
   10	Arizona	$43,041	$21
   11	Nebraska	$42,649	$21
   12	Virginia	$42,059	$20
   13	Iowa	$41,740	$20
   14	Illinois	$41,453	$20
   15	South Carolina	$40,769	$20
   16	Texas	$37,907	$18
   17	North Carolina	$37,849	$18
   18	Florida	$37,164	$18
   19	Georgia	$36,273	$17

   Average excavator operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Roto	$53,251	$25.60	35
   2	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$52,990	$25.48	275
   3	American Residential Services	$52,553	$25.27	1
   4	FlatironConstruction	$52,012	$25.01
   5	MDU Resources	$51,277	$24.65	2
   6	Bird Construction	$51,139	$24.59
   7	Baker Concrete Construction	$51,123	$24.58	3
   8	Martin Marietta	$50,904	$24.47	31
   9	The Walsh Group	$50,820	$24.43	22
   10	MasTec	$50,815	$24.43	82
   11	Kiewit	$50,725	$24.39	6
   12	Allan A. Myers	$50,669	$24.36	18
   13	FNF Construction	$50,256	$24.16	4
   14	Hunter Contracting	$50,154	$24.11
   15	Blythe Construction	$50,118	$24.10	5
   16	Hubbard Construction	$50,062	$24.07	6
   17	Peckham Industries	$49,877	$23.98
   18	Garney Holding Company	$49,859	$23.97	15
   19	T. A. Loving	$49,766	$23.93
   20	Rummel Construction	$49,764	$23.93

4. Writing an excavator operator job description

   An excavator operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an excavator operator job description:

   Excavator operator job description example

   **Southeast Connections LLC,** provides inclusive infrastructure solutions for the natural gas industry. We construct the systems and facilities to transport the nation's cleanest burning energy resource. Southeast Connections offers complete construction services that include pipeline construction, installation, maintenance, repairs, stations, facility modification and new construction. From Senior Management to the "boots on the ground", Southeast Connections, LLC is dedicated & determined to remain the industry leader and earn continued respect from clients through our professionalism.
   
   **_We offer excellent compensation and industry-leading benefits, such as health, dental and vision, life insurance, STD and LTD starting on DAY 1. Eligibility for Company matching 401K benefit after 3 months of employment._**
   **Position Overview:**
   
   This position consists of skilled workers who possess the required knowledge, skill and physical ability to perform construction and maintenance work in the gas distribution, underground utilities, and gas service lines, as well as working with daily contacts with the public. Performs duties as directed by foreman while operating any or all of the following equipment: backhoe, excavator, vibratory or static plows, trenchers or directional bore machines in the installation, removal or maintenance of underground utilities and pipe installation.
   
   **Essential Functions:**
   
   + Skilled worker who possess the required knowledge, skill, and physical ability to perform construction and maintenance duties related to the natural gas industry
   
   + Ability to perform the essential physical functions of the job and operate within a short time frame as needed
   
   + Must have personal characteristics suitable for making contacts with customers and the public
   
   + Must work well with others
   
   + Must follow all safety policies and safety procedures per DC standards and the utility customer.
   
   + Load material or equipment for transport from show-up yard to job site and secure as appropriate
   
   + Place, remove or maintain underground utilities as directed. This includes but is not limited to: carrying pipe, bags of material and other heavy items, jack hammering, shoveling, tamping and installing pipe, duct or cable
   
   + Secure work site, equipment and materials at the end of each shift to ensure public safety and safety of equipment and materials
   
   **Qualifications:**
   
   **Education Preferred:** High school diploma or GED
   
   **Experience Required:** 3 years prior operating experience
   
   **Required:** Valid driver's license with clean driving record and the ability to obtain a CDL, gas construction experience, strong work ethic and willing to work in team environment. Physical ability to skillfully handle heavy machinery.
   
   **Other Duties**
   
   Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find excavator operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any excavator operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level excavator operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your excavator operator job on Zippia to find and recruit excavator operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting excavator operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new excavator operator

   Once you've found the excavator operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new excavator operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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