HOW MUCH DO HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS MAKE || How much do heavy equipment operators get paid 

Thanks for checking in!

I’m in California too I’m in high school. What was the first thing you did to just become to what you started at?

@@gabrielonate2506 It all started when I applied at a local apprenticeship and I went in as a laborer apprentice. I worked for a little more than 3 years, became a journeyman and then did some other type of work. I went back to the apprenticeship and applied for Operator. And now I’m an apprentice again but as an operator this time.

@@DieselandIron How I get this work

@@farhadedamovandi9665 apply to a company and start learning on the job

Thanks for the comment Jordan!

Thanks for watching and thank you for the compliments! Where are you at in Texas? I started my career working for Ranger Excavating out of Austin.

Hi i m surend from malaysia I have Experience in operating back hoe and other heavy machine is they any job for me in your company

I would love to agree with you but the union has some drawbacks. One of which is the fact that the union officials like to dip their hand in the pension pot....

@@DieselandIron non union benifits are horrible it’s night and day difference.

I prefer non-union jobs. Unions are democratic bs

​@Diesel and Iron true, but In my personal experience it's way worse at non-union. It's much more frustrating when the boss gives himself a raise of millions, but denies you a dollar an hour raise and berates you for being "ungrateful" and "lazy" even though you're the reason he can afford that supercar. With unions you still have corruption, but at least you the worker have protection from most unfair practices, good benefits, and a bit more of a say in your future. Is it perfect, absolutely it isn't, but it beats the alternative.

@@DieselandIron agreed. I have 0ver 30 years vested n a major union & have seen both sides. I’ve been a part of 4 different unions during my career journey yet most unions offer much better benefit packages than non-union employers. I tell individuals to do their research/ homework b4 involving themselves. #Teamsters #LongShoremans #AFL

Most people outside the industry (and sadly, even some IN the industry) don't understand why mobilization fees exist and why hiring someone to do dirt work isn't just a flat $60/hr. There is a lot of upfront cost for the gear, let alone the maintenance plus the fuel just to get the equipment to the job.

@@DieselandIron Agreed. To top it off, to get a 'tech there' to fix something on your machine in the field, it's going to cost $150+ hour plus transport of their truck to and from and hopefully they got the parts on the truck. And those mobile techs have to pay the equipment makers thousands of dollars a year to be able to call the factory and call one of the factory techs to help them isolate a problem. One pack rat in a machine can do untold damage chewing wires or dragging in kindling / dryer lint bedding to start and engine fire. There's also equipment insurance to stack on top of costs. When people look at how much it costs to rent a skid steer : $400/day for up to 4 hours. Plus sizable deposit $4000+ Plus insurance. Plus taxes. Plus They have to clean/grease/fuel machine and pay to have it brought out to them and take it back. It's a bargain to pay someone else to deal with all that headache.

Awesome to hear that you are joining us here in the trades! Feel free to reach out if you've got any questions and check out our podcast called Sweat & Grime. It's geared towards guys in the trades and we talk about getting into the industry. Thanks for the comment brother!

Good for you bud, should definitely pursue a career as a operator. But remember is it a a lot of responsibility

I’m 18 and starting as a heavy diesel tech and can’t agree more. I hope you finish most of your degree before you graduate.

Congrats on the job and I hope everything is going well for you brother!

Thanks for checking in Brad!

825 Steam program here 🤙🏻💪🏻

That's almost exactly what we make here in WA too

Yes brother

This industry can get you there if you become a Forman or look into the hoisting side

Maybe if you work as wheel loader operator cat 992k in mining

Your monthly wages should be 4x your cost of living. With 1/4 going to living expenses, 1/4 going to transportation costs and insurance. 1/4 going toward food and clothing. 1/4 going into savings.

Exactly what I say ,u need to make 2000 before taxes a week ,and the wages are going up because this new generation for the most part are not workers like us ,they didn't grow up outside building forts and being active ,they are on tik tok ,and it's getting harder and harder to find good workers

That's awesome! Super exciting stuff. I got my start in a haul truck so you are on the right track. Good luck with your first day!

gravy job

update??!?!??!?! im in second week of training!

Thanks Alex! Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to get you some answers!

@@DieselandIron ok will do

Way to go Alex! The heavy equipment industry needs more operators. You are the future dude. And as a side note the pay is only gonna get better as the next generation of operators retire.

@@DieselandIron how do i start getting into it?

@@DieselandIron im 18 about to finish school and want to get into this trade but dont know how to start (I am starting a small tradeschool as a side note)

Thanks for the compliment and thanks for watching! Let me know if there is anything you want to know about in particular.

The safest working range for an excavator on the job for stability, efficiency would be to work the stick or dipper within the range of 120 degree to 90 degree range. Cycletime is greatly increased with optimal hydraulic flow.

Congrats man! That's an awesome story and I'm glad you've been able to progress like you have!

Thanks for the comment Skylar! I'm sure a lot of guys will find this super helpful!

@@DieselandIron My husband is an excavator operator from Ghana 🇬🇭. Is there a way he can get to work overseas?

@@benedictamensah5173 he would need to apply for a work visa through the state department. I don't have any idea what is involved with that process though.

which countries in your opinion can he apply for a working Visa to and get an employer as easily as an excavator operator?

@@benedictamensah5173 I am honestly not sure. I wish I could be more helpful on this subject but I don't have any knowledge in this area.

That's great! You're at a huge advantage starting this young. Thanks for watching!

Keep going and stay hungry. Be safe and you’ll go far. If you can have them send you to school to get certified. It’s only a month or so in Heavy Equipment Operator School. Good luck

You can make more than 12/hr at Burger King WTF

Thanks for checking in! Sounds like you guys are making pretty dang good money down there. This really is one of the best careers to pursue!

I agree, it depends on where you are located and what the market will bear. Overall wages are slowly going up in the trades as tradesmen are getting harder to find.

Where i live in canada u start at 30 after two yeas 42$

$25 perhour is base pay or all in pay?

Wtf hell naw yall getting fucked over bad in Maine

@@PR0N2KILL you mean$ 30.00 hr and after 2years $42.00 hr

That's awesome! I started at Ranger Excavating back in the day. You are 100% correct on your statement. Get good and then start shopping for a good job. They are out there in non union states, you just have to look a little harder. Thanks for commenting!

Thank you for the comment!

Agreed. I tried to give a pretty good spread to show there is quite a bit of variation. The comment section has actually become a pretty good resource with people checking in with local wage rates. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the check in bother! You're helping people by letting this information be known

This guy trying to get guys to go non union

Thanks Gregg! I appreciate the feedback!

Where in PA?

I was in 324 here in Michigan when I was operating full time. There are definitely perks to the union!

@@DieselandIron I saw in one of your dozer videos your dozer had a Michigan cat sticker on it so I wondered then you said you worked for dans. Yes sir it’s made me a good living thus far

You can absolutely have a great career with the union and there are a lot of benefits. Getting paid over scale is entirely up to your employer though. They are only required to pay scale so bonuses aren't as common as on the non union side. There are some benefits to both sides of the equation on this one.

In Indiana too cost of living is very low

It all depends on where you are and what you do. Hoisting is paying really good right now because they are so short on operators.

What company are you with? Im in Indiana too

It all depends on the labor market in your area. Northern states pay significantly more than the southern states. Florida and Texas are some of the worst for wages by far.

Happy to provide information! Hope this helps!

That is similar to where the rates were in Texas when I was working down there. Moving to the north, the rates improved dramatically!

Same! My first word was "backhoe" 😆Thanks for watching!

This is a great industry to get into. The real estate market is pretty competitive because it's so easy to get a realtor license.

If you have drive and don't mind working hard then you will go far in this business!

@@DieselandIron i love working i live on a farm so i kinda have to but i would definitely love to do operating

@@outdoorsmen3929 best thing you can do is get your cdl class A, use those grants/scholarships. By the time you're 19 you'll be making 50 an hour.

Good luck man! This job is a blast, a lot of pressure but very fulfilling. Especially something like building a hospital, I've been on jobs like that before and you wouldn't believe how much goes into it. I like those big, complicated jobs because you're never bored!

Wow, that's fantastic pay. Sounds like I need to move...

Hell yea I’m packing now ! 🤣 Are operators/seasoned laborers hard to find ?

Yes, your best bet is to take your experience and get into the union. Depending on your abilities and how bad the union wants the dues, you might be able to skip the apprenticeship. Try hiring in with a union company and then calling the union rep when you get hired. They might just give you a temp journeyman card while they try you out.

@@DieselandIron I appreciate you!

Congrats on the new job! That's really exciting brother!

I appreciate you checking in JR! It's really helpful to know what wages are around the country.

I'm in Vancouver Washington boss thinking about joining local 701 in Oregon but don't have a diploma

There are way too many variables at play to spit out a number. What area of the country? Union or non union? Small company or large company?

Thanks for checking in Mike! I appreciate the information brother!

Miiiike

Thank you! You guys need to quit working so much and put out some more content!

@@DieselandIron For sure! I'm going tomorrow morning to Monroe to video some trenching footage. I will let you know how it turns out! Probably will not compare to your excellent work my friend -- God bless!

@@RealityisaComedy nonsense! Looking forward to seeing it!

That's in the south. In the north wages are much better.

Florida and Texas are two states in particular where starting wages are pretty terrible. Hopefully as the market shifts due to lack of labor we will see a rise in wages.

AND HOWELL I LIVE IN THE NEXT TOWN I RECOGNIZED HOWEL CHIROPRACTIC IN ANOTHER VIDEO

Very cool! Hit us up when you get older and we might be able to hook you up with a job if you are still interested!

@@DieselandIron thank you

There's definitely good money in this industry!

Is that in US or Canadian dollars

@@rickee1717 Canadian

So how much do you make in a week as an apprentice??

A can of dip is $20 in Canada

Dang...sounds like I need to move to Canada! Thanks for the input. I'm finding this video is becoming a spot for people to check in with wages which is really helpful to guys around the country/world.

What is the cost of living like up there? $29 for dozer jobs if you’re highly skilled here in Utah. Rent for a 4 bedroom home is 2300 a month! Mortgages 1500+ it’s crazy right now.

That's the South man. Unfortunately wages are just really lagging behind

@@DieselandIron I hear you brother, thank you for the content you push out. You have my support 👍

@@Alpha-Scythe23 I appreciate that Agustin!

It's funny you ask. I'm debating setting up an area on my website to work like a job board specific to the earthmoving industry. I have a lot of guys that want to work coming to my channel as well as a lot of contractors that are looking for employees that want to work. We will see what the future holds.... In the meantime I'll keep an ear out for any California boys looking to operate. Thanks for watching brother!

I’m not a top operator by any means but am looking for the chance to become one. Sacramento area?

I don’t know where you guys live but here in Jersey Hey operating engineer makes around nine dollars for the full package and labors make about seven dollars for the full package

@@seanf.6389 I’m in Philadelphia area and work for Tony DePaul and son

$60.00 perhour is base pay?? Or all in?

Welding isn't typically a skill that larger companies will be looking for. Generally you have mechanics that are wrenching on the machines and doing any sort of fabrication. If you get in with a smaller company that can absolutely help.

Congrats on the career change and thanks for checking in!

Did you have

Thanks for checking in! This is helpful to know wage rates around the country.

@@DieselandIron at the moment I work for a private company in the KC area owned by summit materials and their wages fluctuate between $18-21 starting DOE, but they're not very good about raises.

@@RockinAHomestead I appreciate the information brother

1st year apprentice make $37.50?

Incredible how different the wages are in different areas.

Thanks and thanks for watching!

Trucking makes me go stir crazy. I hated days I got stuck in the truck. Thanks for watching!

Trucking has very limited growth and its becoming automated.

Not trying to brag only trying to prove a point.

The union definitely has its perks. You can make some good money in the union.

Dang! That's good money starting out. Thanks for checking in!

Congrats, I hope you enjoy the new job!

What company

That's awesome man! Congrats on doing so well!

The first thing I would recommend is watching this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-maIDknW4DME.html I actually cover that topic and talk about the pro's and con's. The condensed version is I wouldn't recommend any sort of "heavy equipment school" simply because almost everyone in the industry assumes you will have to be retrained from ground zero if you've been to one of those schools. They teach you how to move levers but they don't teach you how to truly operate a machine in real world conditions. Another reason I don't recommend that route is because it will never make sense to me to pay for an education when you can get paid to learn on the job. The training schools don't accelerate your career start so you might as well get a job at a company and get paid to be taught. As long as you are a dedicated, teachable individual, most companies in the industry have no issue bringing you on and teaching. I would highly recommend you call some small to medium sized companies in your area and let them know the situation. Be honest about your lack of experience and tell them you are willing to start at the bottom and learn. Business owners respect honesty. Where you get into trouble is by lying about your experience or overstating your capabilities.

Diesel and Iron I actually watched the three video set in the right order about five minutes after writing my initial comment. Those three videos are absolutely stellar and a huge help on just getting your mind focused on what to expect/making a choice if it’s for you. There’s a local caterpillar dealership near my work. If I remember correctly you briefly touched base on going in there to ask if they have any ties to local contractors, isnt that correct? I look forward to getting involved in your channel as more videos come out and also hoping to get a start in this industry hopefully before 2021.

@@MyLifeBeLikeBRO that's awesome to hear and thanks for the kind words! As much as I would like to take credit for the dealership idea, that one wasn't actually mine but that's a great place to start. Let me know if I can help you out with questions or if there's anything you'd like to know more about. I'm always looking for new ideas!

Hi I live in Washington state. If you join any trade union as a apprentice you start around 25 to 30 a hour and max out at 50-60 a hour after 4 years. I have 30 years in iuoe. I have about starved to death a couple of times but over all I made a good living. I personally make 90 to 100 in 10 month’s

@Edward Sevold I'm in Vancouver Washington boss , where should I start?

Let me see what I can put together!

That's great pay for here but, what's your mortgage payment? That's the only thing about California

This is why i wanna move back to cali!

How can I get in?

@@jordanhoyer7108 you'll have to touch base with the local there and ask about the apprenticeship program.

@@jordanhoyer7108 they take applications once every 2 years. You take a test and get a place on waiting list for 2 years and if your number doesn't come up you have to start all over with the process.

Let me see what I can do. What I can tell you is taking on a shit load more responsibility for less pay than you're making now seems a bit ass backwards. I would negotiate that number up substantially or take a hard pass.

@@DieselandIron I appreciate the reply I do agree less pay for more responsibilities plus more job sites to run around 10-12 + hours 6 days a week. Hpefully tomorrow I’ll meet with my General superintendent to see if we can negotiate my pay and come to terms. I’m just going to be devastated if my 6+ years and loyalty wasn’t all for nothing.

@@carlosogaz1067 even if they don't come up on pay, as shitty as that is that they won't take care of a longtime employee, don't get too down. By offering you the position they have given you something to put on your resume. You can now apply to other companies and speak about the fact that you were negotiating with your current employer to take over as a superintendent. That's in an industry that is hurting for qualified people. I would absolutely start throwing out resumes and talking about this experience. Even if it isn't with them, your current company has opened a door for you. Keep your head up brother!

They are looking for sucker don't do it. If They are not serious about you they would make a offer that is fair. They know your value and you should too. Do not chase a title and you'll have less pay and more responsibility that comes with more problems later.

Thanks for watching!

As long as you had a company that took care of you then you weren't missing much. The union typically pays higher than non union but that's not a hard and fast rule. These days it is slowly becoming more common for private companies to pay at least scale, if not a little over because everyone is hurting for people.

Thanks for letting us know brother! It's nice to see where wages are around the country

Thank you for checking in Dahni! I appreciate you

Hi

Thanks for checking in! I appreciate every ounce of information I can get on wage rates around the country.

You're right inline with what we make here in Michigan. Thanks for checking in brother!

Nice.. But do you get other pay like food pay per day?

@@joelraharjo1819 only when over a certain distance from home

@@DieselandIron damn I’m terested man

What part of the country are you in?

@@DieselandIron PNW. Washington state. It’s the Local 302

@@matthewkirchberg7885 that's good pay and a beautiful part of the country. I need to move out your way!

Boss I was thinking about going the apprenticeship route in Oregon? Local 701? Is it possible without a high school diploma?

@@matthewkirchberg7885 Sup 302 brother. I was lucky enough to be able to bypass the apprenticeship when I got in but no matter how you do it, it's a great union

That's fantastic they give you a gas card as well!

Wow, that's awesome. Where are you out of?

Diesel and Iron Boston area, J dorenzo inc, they make even more than that.

Thanks for watching brother

Thanks for all the info! If you know how to work the system there's great money in the trades.

That's awesome! Everyone gets into the industry a little different. Great story!

Thanks for checking in Brandon!

That’s the one on ball rd right ? In Orange County ?

Thanks for the support Nicky!

Any suggestions would be helpful since yuh know obviously a shit ton more then I do, at 43 really ain't got alot of time to waist through trial an error....

@@robsnizzle7 join the local 12 operators union

I was going to join that college until I talked to someone who interested me in the local 3 out of Fresno I’m interviewing for the apprenticeship program. Maybe that would be a better option. I’m 43 also.

Live in NorCal.... that SCHOOL in SAN Bernadino is ABSOLUTE DOGSHITE.... TRUCK GOT VANDALIZED, they fired our INSTRUCTOR LITTERLY 2 days before we tested OUT.... WAIST OF TIME... and THAT WAS JUST FOR THE LEVEL 1 COURSE.... WHERES LOCAL 12 UNION?

@@keepitreal2405 wheres the LOCAL 12? I LIVE NORTH OF Sacramento CA

Absolutely. The industry is dying for people right now so having any experience will only help.

If you go union you won't spend much time on a shovel. Your time will be spent in a classroom and on a roller or off road truck.

You are probably closer to $20/hr at this point. This video is 4 years old almost.

Agreed! That's why I worked my way up the food chain! Thanks for watching!

Here in VA it’s looking like I’ll start at 24 an hour. I’m CDL certified so I’m hoping that adds some value as well. Thanks for the information I appreciate it Bro.

Thanks Hank! I appreciate the kind words. All goes well I won't be working in the industry full-time anymore. I'm hoping to continue to teach through this Channel and possibly helping with Tech schools. I think I can do far more damage there then with a single crew. Let me know if you've got any questions!

I don't think you're going to have any luck with someone helping to relocate unfortunately. You might get online to the IUOE website and see what your local is. That would be a start if you wanted to stay in the Florida area. If you're looking to relocate, Most states in the northern part of the us will have unions and we'll have a stronger Union presents than those in the south. I know for a fact that Michigan not only has a very strong union but is also super hungry for skilled trades

Thanks for checking in Jimmy!

Jimmy Clarke What company do you work for? I've been searching the internet for union companies in ohio for awhile now and cannot find one

That's some serious money. You guys have some crazy cost of living out there though. Thanks for checking in!

Hi tony i live in ventura area, where can I get started Thank e

That’s what the rate is in the Southeast PA area and we are still starving for skilled operators around here. There’s no shortage of hacks tho