Operating engineer apprentice vs heavy equipment operator

The differences between operating engineers apprentice 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 an operating engineer apprentice and a heavy equipment operator. Additionally, an operating engineer apprentice has an average salary of $55,924, which is higher than the $39,822 average annual salary of a heavy equipment operator.

The top three skills for an operating engineer apprentice include mechanical equipment, plumbing and CDL. The most important skills for a heavy equipment operator are loaders, backhoe, and CDL.

Operating engineer apprentice vs heavy equipment operator overview

	Operating Engineer Apprentice	Heavy Equipment Operator
Yearly salary	$55,924	$39,822
Hourly rate	$26.89	$19.15
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	17,366	47,261
Job satisfaction	-	4.6
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	High School Diploma, 54%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	4	4

Operating engineer apprentice vs heavy equipment operator salary

Operating engineers apprentice and heavy equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Operating Engineer Apprentice	Heavy Equipment Operator
Average salary	$55,924	$39,822
Salary range	Between $43,000 And $72,000	Between $27,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City	-	Trenton, NJ
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Moody's
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between operating engineer apprentice and heavy equipment operator education

There are a few differences between an operating engineer apprentice and a heavy equipment operator in terms of educational background:

	Operating Engineer Apprentice	Heavy Equipment Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	High School Diploma, 54%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Operating engineer apprentice vs heavy equipment operator demographics

Here are the differences between operating engineers apprentice' and heavy equipment operators' demographics:

	Operating Engineer Apprentice	Heavy Equipment Operator
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7%	Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 0.9% White, 68.3% 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%

Differences between operating engineer apprentice and heavy equipment operator duties and responsibilities

Operating engineer apprentice example responsibilities.

Edit geotechnical and tunneling drawings using AutoCAD and MicroStation.
Assist with plumbing and work as a temporary employee.
Integrate technology into curriculum, supplementing class lectures and developing student's researching skills and internet and PowerPoint proficiency.
Remove and install custom size vinyl replacement windows for residential homes and commercial

Heavy equipment operator example responsibilities.

Manage and cross-train subordinates in several job-relate tasks while promoting leadership.
Operate trucks and equipment such as backhoe, dump trucks, front-end loader, hydraulic excavator, skid steers and bulldozers.
Operate heavy equipment including, but limit to, backhoe, excavators, bobcats, forklifts, trucks and wheel loaders.
Operate equipment used for construction purposes such as tankers, cranes, bulldozers, loaders, compost mixers and excavators.
Put down mulch cut grass, plant and dig up.
Work with asphalt, cut down trees, and dig trenches.

Operating engineer apprentice vs heavy equipment operator skills

Common operating engineer apprentice skills

Mechanical Equipment, 40%
Plumbing, 30%
CDL, 9%
Cooling Towers, 7%
Mechanical Systems, 7%
Electrical Systems, 6%

Common heavy equipment operator skills

Loaders, 9%
Backhoe, 6%
CDL, 6%
Asphalt, 5%
Safety Regulations, 5%
Dump Truck, 5%

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Operating Engineer Apprentice vs Heavy Equipment Operator

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