Pile Driver Operator

Explore This Path

Ideal for those who love working with heavy machinery and building strong foundations.
Essential role in constructing bridges, buildings, and piers for community growth.
Operate powerful equipment to drive pilings deep into the earth for stability.

💰 Earn $76K-$116K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 4.6% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.

Move hand and foot levers of hoisting equipment to position piling leads, hoist piling into leads, and position hammers over pilings.
Move levers and turn valves to activate power hammers, or to raise and lower drophammers that drive piles to required depths.
Drive pilings to provide support for buildings or other structures, using heavy equipment with a pile driver head.
Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.

Scoop

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or GED

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

300 Annually

Median Earnings

$104,870 in California

$63,550 Nationally

$25K

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Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Pile Driver Operator? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@binitapokharel96

@engineersamar

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Thinking and problem solving
Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Coordination
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Speaking

You value 🙏

Having support
Job security
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Pile Driver Operator

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years