The one thing up-and-coming workers are looking for these days: careers that can offer more stability and more opportunities. Which explains why more and more people are looking to the skilled trades. A Harris poll of over 2,000 U.S. adults found that nearly a quarter (23%) of Americans who don’t currently do trade work plan to get into the profession, including 50% of Gen Z and 42% of millennials. 

And that applies to the construction field and the role of heavy equipment operators. 

What Is a Heavy Equipment Operator? 

Heavy equipment operators are trained to drive, maneuver, and operate the heavy machinery used on construction sites to help build roads, bridges, dams, homes, and other structures.  

This includes: 

  • Bulldozers
  • Excavators
  • Backhoes
  • Loaders
  • Forklifts
  • Industrial trucks and tractors
  • Paving and surfacing equipment
  • And more 

Training to become a heavy equipment operator doesn’t require a traditional four-year degree; instead, prospective operators learn through skilled training programs at trade and technical schools like ASCTI. They get hands-on training not just in the mechanics of the equipment, but also in safety procedures and regulations. 

Heavy equipment operators also need to know how to communicate with coworkers, read blueprints and diagrams, log and record activity, and monitor and repair machinery or make emergency adjustments as necessary. 

What Is the Career Outlook for Heavy Equipment Operators? 

The short answer is: The outlook is very good. The construction industry in general, which employs the vast majority of heavy equipment operators is projected to grow faster than the average with widespread workforce shortages leaving skilled trades workers in high demand. 

Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of construction equipment operators in particular is projected to grow by 4% through 2034, slightly above the average for all occupations, with tens of thousands of job openings expected each year on average. While some of this is due to employees retiring, there is also large demand from employers. According to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 92% of contractors report they are having a hard time filling open positions. 

In terms of wages, the BLS reports that the median annual salary for heavy equipment operators was $58,320 as of May 2024, with the highest 10% of workers earning more than $99,930. 

The Top 10 States for Work as a Heavy Equipment Operator 

While the average growth rate across the country for construction equipment operators is 4%, some states are way, way higher. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 states for job growth in this field through 2034: 

Utah  

  • Projected job growth: 30%
  • Average annual salary: $60,740
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $75,880 

Tennessee  

  • Projected job growth: 25%
  • Average annual salary: $52,000
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $75,430 

Montana  

  • Projected job growth: 21%
  • Average annual salary: $61,580
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $79,880 

Idaho 

  • Projected job growth: 17%
  • Average annual salary: $61,680
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $79,650 

Alaska 

  • Projected job growth: 16%
  • Average annual salary: $62,390
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $103,900 

Oregon 

  • Projected job growth: 15%
  • Average annual salary: $73,430
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $117,310 

District of Columbia 

  • Projected job growth: 14%
  • Average annual salary: $74,610
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $98,270 

Mississippi 

  • Projected job growth: 14%
  • Average annual salary: $47,410
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $67,030 

Texas 

  • Projected job growth: 14%
  • Average annual salary: $50,460
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $70,010 

(Tie) California, Connecticut, Wisconsin 

  • Projected job growth: 13%
  • Average annual salary: $87,160 (California); $78,750 (Connecticut); $75,280 (Wisconsin)
  • Annual salary of top 10% of workers: $132,210 (California); $106, 920 (Connecticut); $100,140 (Wisconsin) 

Your Future in Construction 

Despite what many of us were told when we were kids, traditional universities and four-year degrees aren’t the only path toward a fulfilling career and secure future. In fact, these days, skilled trade careers in fields like heavy equipment operation can be more in-demand and offer more job stability than ones that require a bachelor’s degree.  

If this kind of work sounds like your thing—practical, active, and rewarding—it’s a great time to get started. Contact ASCTI at 915-505-6488 to learn more about our Heavy Equipment Operator program and get started on a career in construction.