CAREER OVERVIEW  

Heavy equipment operators use mobile construction equipment, including cranes, bulldozers, and conveyors. 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

Set grade stakes and perform basic surveying activities; proficient in different pieces of heavy equipment. 

AVERAGE SALARY

• $62,670 (annually)
• $30.13 (hourly)

SALARY RANGES  

• $53,030 – $79,620 (annually)
• $25.50 – $38.28 (hourly)

*SOURCE: Occupational Employment Statistics Program, US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Colorado, from May 2020. https://www.bls.gov/oes/

 * Low range wage rates based on the 25^th percentile wage level. High range wage rates based on the 90^th percentile wage level.

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators

VIDEO SOURCE: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration on careeronestop.org