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maneuvering, and otherwise operating heavy machinery, including
excavators, backhoes, bulldozers, forklifts, loaders, tractors, and
more.
The pay: The median salary for heavy equipment operators in the
U.S. is approximately $55,300 per year.
The prospects: Driven in part by high demand in the construction
industry, heavy equipment operators are likely to see their industry
grow in the coming years. BLS is projecting a three percent growth
in jobs between 2022 and 2032.
The education: There are vocational training programs out there
aimed at helping aspiring heavy equipment operators learn how to
use specific types of machinery. Different schools that offer this
type of training vary in exactly what they teach, with some focusing
on specific types of equipment and others structuring their training
around specific brands. As technology improves, more schools are
offering simulator programs, which can help students learn heavy
equipment in a safe and stress-free environment before trying the
real thing. On-the-job training and apprenticeship programs are
also available, with employers typically getting new workers started
on lighter equipment and then leveling up to heavier machinery.
Finally, most jobs in this career path will require a CDL, and some
states even require special types of licenses to operate bulldozers,
cranes, backhoes, loaders, and other equipment.
Energy Trades
The U.S. Energy Information Association
(EIA) projected in 2019 that the world’s
energy usage would increase by nearly 50
percent by the year 2050, driven in large
part by population growth and increasing
consumption of goods on a global scale.