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Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operators

Also called: Loader Operator, Dragline Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator

What they do:
Operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets, to excavate and load loose materials.
On the job, you would:
  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
  • Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
  • Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • mechanical
  • building and construction
Safety and Government
  • public safety and security

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
Hand and Finger Use
  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady
Spatial
  • know where things are around you
  • imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed
Vision
  • decide which thing is closer or farther away from you or decide how far away it is from you

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Independence
  • Initiative
  • Integrity

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Industrial control software
  • Machine control systems
  • Machine monitoring software
Spreadsheet software
Electronic mail software
  • Email software

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma or
some high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Registered Apprenticeship

Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$37,380
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about excavating and loading machine and dragline operators.