Becoming an Excavator Operator

Finding the right career path can often be intimidating! You want to find something that you enjoy, but also something that supports your lifestyle. Our team at Arizona Tractor Sales understands how important it is to kickstart your career, so we want to share a little about becoming an excavator operator.

What Do They Do?

Excavator operators are primarily responsible for safely and efficiently operating an excavator on a job site. This can be a construction site, but it can also include industries like farming and forestry. Excavators are machines designed to move the earth by using a large bucket. They can dig large trenches or holes and also move those raw materials once they’ve been dug up. 

You might find yourself working at home-build sites or in the middle of a field digging trenches for drain tile or irrigation. There are many different tasks performed with excavation equipment. 

What Do They Make?

As of 2022, excavator operators reportedly make an average of $50,000 a year in the western region of the United States. This is a decent wage for today’s economy, averaging an hourly wage of roughly $24. 

How Do You Become One?

There are always different paths available when you’re working toward an end goal, but the standard requirement to become an excavator operator is to acquire your certification. This might look like taking an OSHA-certified course or finding a trade program that includes several machine-operating certifications. Some operators also start with a more entry-level position in construction or industry and work their way up to becoming an operator. 

There are many advantages to becoming an excavator operator; the work will always be in demand and learning one type of equipment operation can easily lead to other avenues. Our team proudly serves the Western United States via our website.