Construction Trades Workers

How to become an Operating Engineer or Other Construction Equipment Operator

Official title: Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Also called: Back Hoe Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator (EO), Forklift Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO), Hot Mix Asphalt Operator, Machine Operator, Motor Grader Operator, Operating Engineer, Track Hoe Operator

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

Main tasks

Learn and follow safety regulations.
Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.

How to become one

Many workers learn how to operate construction equipment on the job after earning a high school diploma or equivalent; others learn through an apprenticeship or by attending vocational schools.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Elevating-Grader Operator.
Apprenticeship: Motor-Grader Operator.
Apprenticeship: Operating Engineer.
Licence: A licence is required in 11 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $59,850 a year The middle half earn $48,680 to $77,170.
About 489,500 people work in this job now, and about 511,800 are projected by 2035. (+4.6%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Operating Engineer or Other Construction Equipment Operator?

Many workers learn how to operate construction equipment on the job after earning a high school diploma or equivalent; others learn through an apprenticeship or by attending vocational schools.

How much does an Operating Engineer or Other Construction Equipment Operator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $59,850 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $48,680 to $77,170.

Is an Operating Engineer or Other Construction Equipment Operator a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 489,500 to about 511,800 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Operating Engineer or Other Construction Equipment Operator?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Elevating-Grader Operator.

Will AI change the work of an Operating Engineer or Other Construction Equipment Operator?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.