What does a labour operator do?
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.
Labour operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real labour operator resumes:
- Operate heavy equipment, including motor graders, heavy loaders, carryalls, bulldozers, backhoes, roller scrapers and tractors.
- Operate heavy equipment, including compactors, heavy loaders, carryalls, water trucks, forklifts, backhoes, and tractors.
- Perform lawn maintenance, mowing, weed-eating, and landscaping.
- Preform roadside maintenance tasks such as trimming trees, mowing, and clearing shrubs.
- Operate many different types of forklifts, bobcat, and 16' hooklift truck.
- Work several large out of town projects with minimal supervision and productively run labor crew.
- Operate forklifts, lulls, boom cranes, scissor lifts, man lifts, and other various equipment.
- Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, and climb ladders to gain access to work area.
- Use grade lasers, shovels, wrenches, jumping jacks, plate tampers and other tools for construction purposes.
- Operate or tend machinery equip with scoops, shovels, or buckets, to excavate and load loose materials.
- Operate heavy machinery such as forklifts to move materials and items from receiving and storage areas to production floor.
- Operate mowers and equipment for industrial landscaping.
- Pipe layer, backhoe operator, supply inventory documentation
- Assist backhoe operator and assure safety of area being excavate.
- Operate heavy machinery equipment and maintain safety while transporting asphalt.
Labour operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Labour Operators are proficient in Safety Regulations, CDL, and Dump Truck. They’re also known for soft skills such as Physical strength, Unafraid of heights, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Labour Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Safety Regulations, 10%
Followed traffic and highway safety regulations and precautions to prevent accidents.
- CDL, 8%
Utilized class A CDL / Operated Skid Steer, Back Hoe, Pay Loader, Excavator, and various tractors
- Dump Truck, 7%
General labor and all-terrain forklift/mid-sized dump truck operator.
- Backhoe, 7%
Assisted backhoe operator and assured safety of area being excavated.
- Load Trucks, 7%
Unload trucks with forklift, inspecting any discrepancies or damage and verify paperwork before signing of the driver.
- Dozer, 5%
Operated tractor trailer hauling heavy equipment dozer, loaders, excavators, crane booms, pick ups and drop offs.
"safety regulations," "cdl," and "dump truck" are among the most common skills that labour operators use at work. You can find even more labour operator responsibilities below, including:
Physical strength. One of the key soft skills for a labour operator to have is physical strength. You can see how this relates to what labour operators do because "construction equipment operators may be required to lift more than 50 pounds as part of their duties." Additionally, a labour operator resume shows how labour operators use physical strength: "performed various duties including street maintenance, snow removal, operating dumptruck and backhoe as well as mechanical and physical tasks. "
Mechanical skills. labour operators are also known for mechanical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to labour operator responsibilities, because "construction equipment operators often perform basic maintenance on the equipment they operate." A labour operator resume example shows how mechanical skills is used in the workplace: "operated hand tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists. "
The three companies that hire the most labour operators are:
- GROWMARK17 labour operators jobs
- Republic Services16 labour operators jobs
- The Townsend15 labour operators jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable labour operator resume templates
Build a professional labour operator resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your labour operator resume.
Compare different labour operators
Labour operator vs. Road machine runner
Prestressed concrete labor works at construction sites where they are in charge of handling and processing prestressed concrete materials into structural forms. They typically coordinate with managers and engineers to learn the construction plans and guidelines, design and build structures, prepare materials, and perform corrective measures when necessary. They must also maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating regularly. Moreover, prestressed concrete labor must abide by the construction site's safety policies and regulations for a safe and efficient work environment.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between labour operators and road machine runner. For instance, labour operator responsibilities require skills such as "safety regulations," "cdl," "dump truck," and "backhoe." Whereas a road machine runner is skilled in "windows," "delivery vehicle," "troubleshoot," and "internet connectivity." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that road machine runners earn slightly differ from labour operators. In particular, road machine runners are 4.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a labour operator. Additionally, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Labour operator vs. Prestressed concrete labour
An airport maintenance labour worker is primarily responsible for performing various maintenance and repair tasks. Their responsibilities usually include inspecting malfunctioning equipment, troubleshooting issues, fixing electrical and plumbing systems, replacing fixtures such as light bulbs, monitoring and restocking supplies, and submitting reports to managers as necessary. Moreover, as an airport maintenance labour agent, it is essential to be proactive at dealing with issues and have an active communication line with co-workers for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real labour operator resumes. While labour operator responsibilities can utilize skills like "backhoe," "load trucks," "dozer," and "sewer lines," prestressed concrete labours use skills like "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "scaffolding," and "concrete structures."
Prestressed concrete labours earn a lower average salary than labour operators. But prestressed concrete labours earn the highest pay in the construction industry, with an average salary of $38,973. Additionally, labour operators earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $38,412 annually.prestressed concrete labours earn similar levels of education than labour operators in general. They're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Labour operator vs. Airport maintenance labour
A crew foreman coordinates the daily activities in a construction site to ensure that operations adhere to deadlines, budgets, and quality standards. They serve as the point of contact for supervisors, clients, and construction workers. They are also in charge of managing construction schedules, conducting assessments and evaluations, hiring staff, training staff, monitoring supplies, and ordering materials. Additionally, they must enforce safety regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from labour operator resumes include skills like "safety regulations," "cdl," "backhoe," and "load trucks," whereas an airport maintenance labour is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "grass," "ladders," and "plumbing. "
Airport maintenance labours earn the highest salary when working in the transportation industry, where they receive an average salary of $42,380. Comparatively, labour operators have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $38,412.Most airport maintenance labours achieve a similar degree level compared to labour operators. For example, they're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Labour operator vs. Crew foreman
Types of labour operator
Updated January 8, 2025
