Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
SOC Code: 47-2073 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,408 | $91,125 | $111,842 | $132,558 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,093 | $91,270 | $110,448 | $129,626 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $64,626 | $84,677 | $104,749 | $124,800 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $65,416 | $82,264 | $99,091 | $115,939 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,963 | $79,622 | $97,302 | $114,962 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,906 | $76,357 | $93,787 | $111,238 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $43,243 | $65,770 | $88,296 | $110,822 |
| Vallejo, CA | $61,568 | $77,958 | $94,328 | $110,718 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,109 | $78,104 | $94,099 | $110,094 |
| Modesto, CA | $58,781 | $75,816 | $92,872 | $109,907 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.1 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.2 | |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.2 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 | |
| Active Learning | 2.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Mechanical | 3.6 |
| English Language | 3.3 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 2.8 |
| Administration and Management | 2.8 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.7 |
| Education and Training | 2.6 |
| Transportation | 2.5 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 81.7% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 16.3% |
| Less than high school | 1.4% |
Typical 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.
- Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
- Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
- Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Windows Maintenance record software Work record software
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