What does a heavy machinery operator do?
Heavy machinery operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real heavy machinery operator resumes:
- Used heavy machinery such as a bobcat, backhoe and forklift to move asphalt or material.
- Operate CNC lathe along with several other pieces of machinery equipment.
- Operate backhoe to excavate excess water/mud to build barriers to prevent a spill over onto roads and residential area.
- Start engines, move throttle switch and levers, such as bulldozers, road graders and backhoes and relate machines.
- Operate light machinery including bulldozers and maintainers
- Reviewed/Approve area assessment reports and corrective action plans assuring compliance with applicable OSHA and EPA regulatory guidance.
- Operate and maintain wheel and track loaders, excavators, bobcats and tractors.
- Operate backhoes, bobcats, loaders, forklifts, excavators, and sweepers.
- Istart out on a Vermeer 80/100 and working up to Vermeer 100/120 while helping runsupport on Vermeer 200/300.
Heavy machinery operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Heavy Machinery Operators are proficient in Dump Truck, Backhoe, and Load Trucks. They’re also known for soft skills such as Physical strength, Unafraid of heights, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Heavy Machinery Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Dump Truck, 15%
Operated machinery on landscaping jobs from mini-excavators to skid steers to dump trucks.
- Backhoe, 10%
Operated and maintained heavy equipment: backhoe, skid steer, mulcher, bulldozer, and tractor.
- Load Trucks, 7%
Use Skid Steer Loader to feed materials onto the baler, load trucks, transport materials etc.
- Front End Loader, 7%
Operate a various equipment to include rubber tire front end loaders, backhoes, off road trucks, water trucks.
- CDL, 6%
Operate heavy machinery, run fiber optic cables, assist with crew where needed, CDL driving for certain assignments
- Bobcat, 6%
Operated and maintained wheel and track loaders, excavators, bobcats and tractors.
"dump truck," "backhoe," and "load trucks" are among the most common skills that heavy machinery operators use at work. You can find even more heavy machinery operator responsibilities below, including:
Physical strength. The most essential soft skill for a heavy machinery operator to carry out their responsibilities is physical strength. This skill is important for the role because "construction equipment operators may be required to lift more than 50 pounds as part of their duties." Additionally, a heavy machinery operator resume shows how their duties depend on physical strength: "performed physical labor for heavy equipment operation including excavation, backhoe and bobcat. "
Mechanical skills. This is an important skill for heavy machinery operators to perform their duties. For an example of how heavy machinery operator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "construction equipment operators often perform basic maintenance on the equipment they operate." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a heavy machinery operator: "perform routine maintenance and emergency repairs, reports complex mechanical problems for shop repairs. ".
The three companies that hire the most heavy machinery operators are:
- Dairy Farmers of America2 heavy machinery operators jobs
- Ross Stores1 heavy machinery operators jobs
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Compare different heavy machinery operators
Heavy machinery operator vs. Operator/assistant foreman
Heavy equipment operators control and drive construction equipment. The operators operate heavy equipment, including backhoes, bulldozers, and lift. They are in charge of placing or moving materials and other equipment. Their job covers the inspection, cleanup, lubrication, and refilling of equipment. They should have experience in operating machines. Among the skills necessary for this job include attention to detail, physical strength, knowledge of production procedure, and analytical skills. They should be able to read schematics, manuals, and blueprints.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a heavy machinery operator are more likely to require skills like "dump truck," "backhoe," "load trucks," and "front end loader." On the other hand, a job as an operator/assistant foreman requires skills like "pre," "ran," "qc," and "safety inspections." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that operators/assistant foreman earn slightly differ from heavy machinery operators. In particular, operators/assistant foreman are 3.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a heavy machinery operator. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Heavy machinery operator vs. Equipment operator/labour
An engineering equipment operator runs heavy construction machinery. Engineering equipment operators drive and control any construction equipment. Among the equipment they operate are forklifts, cargo trucks, hydraulic truck cranes, dump trucks, backhoes, and bulldozers. They use any of the equipment to provide assistance in structure construction like roads, buildings, and bridges. The operators should be well-trained in doing these duties. They should develop analytical skills, teamwork, physical strength and stamina, attention to detail, and knowledge of the production procedures.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that heavy machinery operator responsibilities requires skills like "bobcat," "inspect machines," "assembly line," and "steer loader." But an equipment operator/labour might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "loaders," "asphalt," "dozer," and "sewer lines."
On average, equipment operators/labour earn a higher salary than heavy machinery operators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, equipment operators/labour earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $38,812. Whereas heavy machinery operators have higher pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $36,835.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Equipment operators/labour tend to reach similar levels of education than heavy machinery operators. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Heavy machinery operator vs. Engineering equipment operator
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, heavy machinery operators are more likely to have skills like "load trucks," "front end loader," "bobcat," and "inspect machines." But a engineering equipment operator is more likely to have skills like "dot," "loaders," "front-end loaders," and "dependability."
Engineering equipment operators earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $45,029. Comparatively, heavy machinery operators have the highest earning potential in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $36,835.When it comes to education, engineering equipment operators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to heavy machinery operators. In fact, they're 3.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Heavy machinery operator vs. Operator
Types of heavy machinery operator
Updated January 8, 2025
