Is the Life of a Heavy Equipment Operator for You?

Heavy equipment operators are always needed and in high demand in the industry. Almost every building project, from highways to power plants to homes to airlines and all else in between, depends on the heavy machinery operator’s professional labor and experience to get the job done. The demand for heavy machinery operators’ services is projected to remain strong in the future.

Industrial machinery operator jobs are expected to rise 10% by 2028, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. When compared to all other professions, this rate is twice as high. Build Your Future (BYF), an NCCER-founded company aspires to increase the amount. Heavy machinery operators are expected to be among the five major construction skill positions in demand throughout 2022, according to BYF, with over 600,000 heavy machinery operators needed around the country.

Heavy Machinery Operators Have Several Prospects

Heavy machinery operators must be able to handle construction equipment efficiently, maintain it properly, and comply with the blueprints and calculate acceptable loads.  Bulldozers, cranes, excavators, and other construction equipment are often used by heavy machinery operators to transfer and move soil and products, mount building materials, and set the foundation for roadbeds.

Hand-Eye Coordination

Heavy machinery operators must have proper coordination, be experienced in the smooth management of different devices, have a rapid response time and endurance, and be at least 18 years old with completed high school education. Heavy machinery operators would also need experience on how to operate the machinery, guidance on workplace safety procedures, and will have to be accredited or licensed. When the necessary training is finished, both the NCCER as well as the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators provide certificates.

What to Expect From a Heavy Machinery Operator’s Life

As a heavy machinery operator, you have a lot of choices. You can either pursue a job by trying to follow construction and road building patterns, or you can take a more tailored direction like working in the mining industry. You can also work for yourself and invest in some used construction machinery to start your own firm.

Heavy machinery operators may specialize in a single piece of machinery or be generalists who know how to operate a variety of equipment. Operators will be required to work outside on almost any worksite and will be able to find a job anywhere in the United States as well as many other countries. When starting out in the industry, heavy machinery operators should expect pay that is equal to or higher than that of their college-educated peers.

You could be a fantastic heavy machinery technician. A major requirement is the ability to operate and repair equipment. However, there is a slew of other qualities that you will need in order to excel in this role. Patience is not usually on top of the checklist of most desirable qualities, but it is more critical than a passion for the outdoors. Another essential attribute is fortitude or will. Even if there are time constraints, you should be able to interrupt the project if you have any security risks. A strong eye for detail, preparation skills, and a high degree of dirt tolerance are among the other attributes.