| The job of construction equipment operators mainly | | | | to industry. As per the statistical data collected in 2002, |
| involves the use of machinery such as forklifts, cranes | | | | operators employed at highway, street and bridge |
| and earthmovers. Most of these machines have | | | | construction sites earned around $19.81/hour, those |
| automatic systems and the operator only has to move | | | | employed by specialty trade contractors earned |
| the levers or operate switches for completing the | | | | around $17.56/hour, while those employed at utility |
| specified task. The most modern machines used in | | | | system construction sites earned around $17.48/hour. |
| construction are fully computerized and the operator is | | | | Operators employed at civil engineering construction |
| required to have the necessary training and knowledge | | | | sites earned around $16.88/hour and those employed |
| for operating these. | | | | for local government projects earned around $14.88 |
| Computerized machines have made it quite easy for | | | | hour. |
| construction equipment operators to undertake | | | | Future job outlook of construction equipment |
| complex construction tasks, such as moving heavy | | | | operators: |
| machinery and placing it at a predetermined spot. The | | | | Based on key economic indicators, the job outlook of |
| equipment operators are required to have patience | | | | the seems bright in the next five to ten years. One of |
| and dexterity for handling such complex and | | | | the reasons for their increased demand is the lack of |
| time-consuming tasks. They are also required to have | | | | adequate training programs for individuals, who want to |
| the right kind of training and qualification for | | | | make a career in construction. |
| understanding the complex systems that are | | | | The demand for construction equipment operators is |
| nowadays present in most construction machines and | | | | expected to grow in the next five to ten years, in line |
| equipment. | | | | with the growth of the overall construction industry. |
| Earnings of construction equipment operators: | | | | This demand is not affected by the improvements in |
| The operators can find employment at any | | | | construction technology that helps in raising worker |
| construction site, be it highway construction, bridge | | | | productivity and reduces the demand for these |
| construction, railroad construction or even a building. | | | | workers. |
| These operators can work also as pile-driver | | | | Job opportunities are set to increase with the |
| operators, paving operators, surfacing and even | | | | anticipated increase in population. This fuels the |
| tamping equipment operators. | | | | demand for new homes, industries, health care centers |
| In 2002, the median national hourly earning of such | | | | and office buildings. Opportunities will also be available |
| operators was $16.94. The data sample collected from | | | | at new highway, bridge and street construction sites in |
| all the states of the country shows that the top ten | | | | the next few years. A number of structures in the |
| percent of the operators had registered earnings of | | | | country that were built during the last fifty to sixty |
| more than $28.93/hour. The next fifty percent earned | | | | years will have to be repaired or replaced. This will |
| in the range of $12.96 to $22.98, while the lowest ten | | | | lead to a further demand for construction equipment |
| percent earned less than $10.61/hour. | | | | operators in future. |
| The earnings of the operators also vary from industry | | | | |