Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Go Back to List 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.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Facilities management software

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.
	Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain.
	Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.

Skills
	Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
	Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
	Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
	Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
	Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Knowledge
	Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
	Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
	Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
	Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

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Education & Training   Education:   These occupations usually require a high school diploma.   Related Experience:   Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $80,472.00 $38.69  $27.17  $30.56 - $46.84  Bridgeport/Stamford $82,083.00 $39.46  $28.93  $31.14 - $46.46  Danbury $85,602.00 $41.15  $26.39  $29.46 - $48.77  Hartford $80,728.00 $38.81  $26.28  $30.56 - $49.04  New Haven $83,078.00 $39.94  $28.76  $31.49 - $46.99  New London/Norwich $76,275.00 $36.67  $27.27  $28.85 - $45.34  Waterbury $77,896.00 $37.45  $25.39  $28.46 - $39.80  Torrington $75,321.00 $36.22  $23.97  $25.57 - $43.12

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   293   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.