Heavy machine operator vs excavator

The differences between heavy machine operators and excavators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a heavy machine operator and an excavator. Additionally, an excavator has an average salary of $48,403, which is higher than the $38,232 average annual salary of a heavy machine operator.

The top three skills for a heavy machine operator include cranes, preventative maintenance and CNC. The most important skills for an excavator are asphalt, CDL, and hand tools.

Heavy machine operator vs excavator overview

	Heavy Machine Operator	Excavator
Yearly salary	$38,232	$48,403
Hourly rate	$18.38	$23.27
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	73,011	521
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 57%	High School Diploma, 41%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Heavy machine operator vs excavator salary

Heavy machine operators and excavators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Heavy Machine Operator	Excavator
Average salary	$38,232	$48,403
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $49,000	Between $36,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between heavy machine operator and excavator education

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

	Heavy Machine Operator	Excavator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 57%	High School Diploma, 41%
Most common major	Business	Anthropology
Most common college	-	-

Heavy machine operator vs excavator demographics

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

	Heavy Machine Operator	Excavator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4%	Male, 82.3% Female, 17.7%
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 heavy machine operator and excavator duties and responsibilities

Heavy machine operator example responsibilities.

Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
Dig trenches and level earth to grade specification, using pick, shovel and backhoe.
Operate heavy machinery, manual labor and assisting crew where need; CDL driving for certain jobs
Operate excavation and loading machines equip with scoops, shovels, or buckets that dig gravel and earth.
Make excavations and load different material using a loader.
Load & unload trucks with forklift or bobcat for outbound delivery.

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.

Heavy machine operator vs excavator skills

Common heavy machine operator skills

Cranes, 13%
Preventative Maintenance, 13%
CNC, 12%
Grinders, 12%
Troubleshoot, 11%
Load Trucks, 6%

Common excavator skills

Asphalt, 25%
CDL, 16%
Hand Tools, 14%
Plumbing, 10%
Safety Procedures, 8%
Shovels, 6%