Truck-crane operator vs heavy equipment operator

The differences between truck-crane 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 truck-crane operator and a heavy equipment operator. Additionally, a truck-crane operator has an average salary of $40,546, which is higher than the $39,822 average annual salary of a heavy equipment operator.

The top three skills for a truck-crane operator include CDL, cranes and rig. The most important skills for a heavy equipment operator are loaders, backhoe, and CDL.

Truck-crane operator vs heavy equipment operator overview

	Truck-Crane Operator	Heavy Equipment Operator
Yearly salary	$40,546	$39,822
Hourly rate	$19.49	$19.15
Growth rate	7%	5%
Number of jobs	76,650	47,261
Job satisfaction	-	4.6
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 54%
Average age	47	45
Years of experience	4	4

Truck-crane operator vs heavy equipment operator salary

Truck-crane operators and heavy equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Truck-Crane Operator	Heavy Equipment Operator
Average salary	$40,546	$39,822
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $57,000	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 truck-crane operator and heavy equipment operator education

There are a few differences between a truck-crane operator and a heavy equipment operator in terms of educational background:

	Truck-Crane Operator	Heavy Equipment Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 54%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering Technology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Truck-crane operator vs heavy equipment operator demographics

Here are the differences between truck-crane operators' and heavy equipment operators' demographics:

	Truck-Crane Operator	Heavy Equipment Operator
Average age	47	45
Gender ratio	Male, 97.7% Female, 2.3%	Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 0.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%	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 truck-crane operator and heavy equipment operator duties and responsibilities

Truck-crane operator example responsibilities.

Perform and record daily pre-trip inspections using company checklist and submit detailed reports after trips and deliveries.
Maintain proper safety guidelines setting up perimeter before crane use.
Operate gasoline/diesel-powered crane mount on specially construct truck chassis to lift and move materials and objects.
Operate forklift, bobcats to transfer nickel, carbon and scrap metal into ladles for production in the melt shop.
Deploy national GSM network and UMTS overlie of 2000 base stations , 5 MSCs and 20 BSC/RNCs.
Set aluminum panels to pour concrete foundation.

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.

Truck-crane operator vs heavy equipment operator skills

Common truck-crane operator skills

CDL, 32%
Cranes, 25%
Rig, 13%
NCCCO, 9%
Load Charts, 7%
Delivery Schedules, 4%

Common heavy equipment operator skills

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

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Truck-Crane Operator
Truck-Crane Operator vs Heavy Equipment Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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