Q: Do heavy equipment operators make good money?

Yes, heavy equipment operators make good money. A heavy equipment operator on average makes $65,500 a year, which is roughly $10,000 higher than the national wage average. A heavy equipment operator can make anywhere between $54,000 and $75,000, with outliers on either side.

Question 1

How long does it take to become a Heavy Equipment Operator?

Accepted Answer

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a heavy equipment operator. That is the time it takes to learn specific heavy equipment operator skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Question 2

Do heavy equipment operators make good money?

Accepted Answer

Yes, heavy equipment operators make good money. A heavy equipment operator on average makes $65,500 a year, which is roughly $10,000 higher than the national wage average. A heavy equipment operator can make anywhere between $54,000 and $75,000, with outliers on either side.

Question 3

Is an interaction designer the same as a UX designer?

Accepted Answer

No, an interaction designer is not necessarily the same as a UX designer. Although they are often used interchangeably, they generally focus on the overall user experience design process.

Question 4

What is a good starting salary for a Heavy Equipment Operator?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a heavy equipment operator is $28,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a heavy equipment operator in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for heavy equipment operators is $36,918, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a heavy equipment operator can vary by state.

Question 5

How much do bulldozer drivers make?

Accepted Answer

Bulldozer drivers make around $35,000 to $40,000 in a year. This equals about $15 to $20 an hour for an hourly wage.

The lowest-paid bulldozer drivers are only paid $23,000 a year, while the highest-paid bulldozer drivers can reach over $70,000 in total annual salary. While the lowest paid bulldozer drivers are well below the average salary across all jobs in the United States, the highest salaries are significantly above.

Question 6

How much do heavy equipment operators make?

Accepted Answer

Heavy equipment operators make around $35,000 to $40,000 in a year. This equals about $15 to $20 an hour for an hourly wage.

The lowest-paid heavy equipment operators are only paid $23,000 a year, while the highest-paid heavy equipment operators can reach over $70,000 in total annual salary. While the lowest paid heavy equipment operators are well below the average salary across all jobs in the United States, the highest salaries are significantly above.

Question 7

Can a heavy equipment operator make 100k?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot make $100,000 per year as a heavy equipment operator. It is highly unlikely to earn over $100k because the average annual salary for a heavy equipment operator is $36,918. Even heavy equipment operators in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $48,000 per year.

Question 8

Is being a heavy equipment operator a good career?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a heavy equipment operator can be a good career for the right person. While many might consider the job a drag, the right individual will find it to be a great job that fits their skills, interests, and aptitude.

Question 9

Which heavy equipment operators make the most money?

Accepted Answer

Crane and backhoe heavy equipment operators typically make the most money. The national average salary for all heavy equipment operators is around $35,000 to $40,000 in a year. This equals about $15 to $20 an hour for an hourly wage.

Question 10

What percentage of Heavy Equipment Operators are female?

Accepted Answer

6.0% of heavy equipment operators are female in the United States. This is 0.8 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female heavy equipment operators has increased by 0.7 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 24,651 female heavy equipment operators in the U.S. and 386,212 male heavy equipment operators in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 410,863 people with the specific job title of heavy equipment operator and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 11

How do I write a resume for a heavy equipment operator job?

Accepted Answer

You write a resume for a heavy equipment operator job by highlighting such things as your technical skills, safety record, dependability, and physical abilities. The entire resume (from the profile summary to work experience to skills section) should showcase to the hiring manager why you would make an excellent candidate.

Question 12

What skills are needed to be a heavy equipment operator?

Accepted Answer

The skills needed to be a heavy equipment operator include the right combination of hard and soft skills needed to drive and control large equipment and vehicles, usually for construction.

Frequently asked questions about heavy equipment operators

Questions About Becoming a Heavy Equipment Operator