Pile Driver Operators
SOC Code: 47-2072 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Pile Driver Operators. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $97,344 | $111,010 | $124,696 | $138,362 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $100,318 | $112,902 | $125,466 | $138,050 |
| Modesto, CA | $94,723 | $108,742 | $122,782 | $136,802 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $94,619 | $108,410 | $122,221 | $136,011 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $91,562 | $106,350 | $121,160 | $135,949 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $87,755 | $102,731 | $117,728 | $132,704 |
| Vallejo, CA | $87,152 | $102,170 | $117,166 | $132,184 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $68,744 | $87,526 | $106,288 | $125,070 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $68,744 | $87,526 | $106,288 | $125,070 |
| Napa, CA | $78,354 | $93,163 | $107,973 | $122,782 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.1 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 4.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.2 | |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.2 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Time Management | 2.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Building and Construction | 4.1 |
| Mechanical | 3.6 |
| Mathematics | 3.6 |
| Transportation | 3.5 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.4 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.4 |
| Design | 3.1 |
| Production and Processing | 3.0 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 52.6% |
| Some college | 20.9% |
| Less than high school | 18.6% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 7.9% |
Typical Tasks
- Move hand and foot levers of hoisting equipment to position piling leads, hoist piling into leads, and position hammers over pilings.
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Drive pilings to provide support for buildings or other structures, using heavy equipment with a pile driver head.
- Move levers and turn valves to activate power hammers, or to raise and lower drophammers that drive piles to required depths.
- Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Email software GRL Engineers Wave Equation Analysis Program GRLWEAP Global positioning system GPS software Pile Dynamics Case Pile Wave Analysis Program CAPWAP Pile Dynamics Pile Driving Analyzer PDA
Calculate your wage level for Pile Driver Operators →
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