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The differences between labour operators and heavy equipment operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a labour operator and a heavy equipment operator. Additionally, a heavy equipment operator has an average salary of $39,822, which is higher than the $34,180 average annual salary of a labour operator.
The top three skills for a labour operator include safety regulations, CDL and dump truck. The most important skills for a heavy equipment operator are loaders, backhoe, and CDL.
| Labour Operator | Heavy Equipment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $34,180 | $39,822 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $19.15 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 61,894 | 47,261 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.6 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Labor operators typically drive, maneuver the heavy machinery used to construct buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures. Their tasks and duties include cleaning and maintaining construction equipment, reporting faulty mechanism to supervisors, driving and operating equipment, and ensuring that the standards for safety are met. They often work with different kinds of construction equipment and may maneuver loading and excavation machinery. They also operate and maintain other power construction equipment such as air compressors and pumps at their working sites.
Heavy equipment operators are skilled workers who are trained to handle heavy equipment. They are usually in the construction industry. Some of the equipment they operate are forklifts, bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, excavation machines, and mixer trucks. Heavy equipment operators are knowledgeable about the ins and outs of their equipment and are expected to be able to do basic repair and maintenance. They should also be able to recommend more complex repairs and maintenance work needed. Heavy equipment operators must adhere to health and safety protocols at all times.
Labour operators and heavy equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Labour Operator | Heavy Equipment Operator | |
| Average salary | $34,180 | $39,822 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $43,000 | Between $27,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Trenton, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Sierra Pacific Industries | Moody's |
| Best paying industry | Education | Energy |
There are a few differences between a labour operator and a heavy equipment operator in terms of educational background:
| Labour Operator | Heavy Equipment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between labour operators' and heavy equipment operators' demographics:
| Labour Operator | Heavy Equipment Operator | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 1.0% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 0.9% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |