There are plenty of rewarding career paths in the heavy equipment industry for qualified operators. All you need to do is find a path that works for you.
Will you choose Tower, Mobile, or Lattice Boom Crawler crane operation training? Or maybe a general heavy equipment operator training?
Regardless of the path you choose, heavy equipment operators are expected to stay in demand for years to come. Learn how to take advantage of high demand and what makes heavy equipment operation so appealing.
The Demand for Heavy Equipment Operators
Just about every road, bridge, building, or airport you’ve ever used was created using heavy equipment like backhoes, loaders, and dozers. These structures don’t repair themselves. We need qualified operators to maintain the integrity of the structures all around us. This need or demand is steady as roads and bridges across the country need constant repair and maintenance.
To highlight the demand in numbers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the construction equipment operator field to grow at a rate of 5% through 2031. That’s about 50,800 openings per year for the remainder of the decade.
Solving the Labor Shortage
You’ve probably heard about a labor shortage in the news. This phenomenon is not unique to one industry but is especially impacting construction and heavy equipment operations. As more members of the baby boomer generation retire, a gap is forming in experience and qualified personnel.
This is an opportunity for anyone looking to make a career pivot or start their career in construction. You can gain basic safety training and earn certification in no time through the right heavy equipment programs and enter the workforce with skills employers want.
3 Benefits of Heavy Equipment Training
From pay and benefits to the wide range of duties and responsibilities you can handle, there are plenty of reasons to become a heavy equipment operator. Explore these benefits to help you make an informed decision about your career path.
1. Where You Can Work
Most people associate heavy equipment operators with construction, and rightfully so. However, you’re not limited to construction. Heavy equipment operators are found in pipeline and logging companies and are sometimes employed by heavy equipment contractors. The basic skills you earn through a training program can be applied in so many other ways.
2. Compensation
According to BLS, the median pay for heavy equipment operators is about $55,270 per year or $26.57 per hour. This salary for heavy equipment operators varies based on the various roles found in heavy equipment operation. BLS broke these roles down further:
Along with your salary, companies may offer a robust set of benefits that could include:
- Health care, including medical, dental, and prescription coverage
- Health and disability insurance
- Paid annual vacation time
- Retirement plan
3. Industry Growth Over The Next Decade
Back in March of 2021, the Biden-Harris administration announced an infrastructure plan that would help create and save 15 million jobs over the next decade. About $1.5 trillion will go directly to infrastructure-related projects, giving the constriction and material moving industries a huge boost.
With such a large focus placed on America’s infrastructure, qualified personnel are going to be in high demand to fulfill projects. Want to be one of those qualified operators? Then waste no more time and get your training and certification started today.
Choose The Right Heavy Equipment Training School
You don’t have to wait years or even months to get the safety training and certification needed for heavy equipment operation. At HEC, you earn your certification in as little as three weeks with the exception of our Tower crane program, which can be completed in as little as two weeks.
With multiple locations across the country, we make it possible for you to gain the basic skills you need to stand out. No matter which program you choose, you have access to financial aid opportunities and career services to help ensure your success after you graduate. Learn more about our programs.
