← Back to Careers
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-2073
0.0% AI Exposure — Low
$59,850
Median Annual Salary
Bright ↗
O*NET Outlook
52,500
Proj. Annual Openings
478,090
Employment (OEWS 2025)
100/100
AI Resiliency Score
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
AI Exposure Analysis
AI Exposure0.0%
AI Resiliency100/100
Exposure BandLow
Sector Avg. Exposure0.4%
Top Skills
1.Operation and Control
2.Operations Monitoring
3.Equipment Maintenance
4.Monitoring
5.Active Listening
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
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.
Common titles: Back Hoe Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator (EO), Forklift Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO), Hot Mix Asphalt Operator
Representative 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.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Update job related knowledge or skills.
- •Position construction or extraction equipment.
- •Monitor construction operations.
- •Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.
- •Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed.
Tools & Technologies
Microsoft Excel · hotMicrosoft Office software · hotMicrosoft Outlook · hotMicrosoft Windows · hotMaintenance record software
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
15
Occupations Shown
1.2%
Avg AI Exposure
12
Bright Outlook
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Outlook | Bright ↗ | 76% Bright |
| Median Salary | $59,850 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |