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.
Pile Driver Operators
SOC: 47-2072 O*NET: 47-2072.00
Median Salary
$70,510
per year
Job Growth
📈 4.3%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
0.3
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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.
What does a Pile Driver Operators do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$46,690
10th percentile
Early Career
$54,750
25th percentile
Median
$70,510
50th percentile
Experienced
$103,960
75th percentile
Top Earners
$121,990
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$46,690
25th
$54,750
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$70,510
Mean: $79,000
75th
$103,960
90th
$121,990
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $75,300 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $54,750 and $103,960
- •Salary spread is 69.8% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 3,040 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:3,200
Top Industries
Construction95.1%
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction55.3%
Specialty Trade Contractors31.3%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+4.3%
Annual Openings:300
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)3,200
Current
2034 (Projected)3,300
+4.3%
+100
Employment Change
+4.3%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Pile Driver Operators professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 15 locations
California
790 jobs$105,9502.22x
Florida
560 jobs$54,7502.92x
Texas
270 jobs$66,0700.98x
Massachusetts
220 jobs$113,3603.07x
Louisiana
180 jobs$58,9804.69x
Virginia
130 jobs$49,9601.60x
Alaska
110 jobs$87,63016.79x
Georgia
70 jobs$46,7100.72x
New Jersey
60 jobs$125,0500.67x
Indiana
60 jobs$49,3301.01x
Pennsylvania
30 jobs$91,1600.26x
Washington
0 jobs$101,2600.00x
Maryland
0 jobs$77,9900.00x
South Carolina
0 jobs$55,9600.00x
North Carolina
0 jobs$44,9900.00x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operation and Control
100%
#2
Operations Monitoring
90%
#3
Equipment Maintenance
80%
#4
Monitoring
70%
#5
Troubleshooting
60%
#6
Coordination
50%
#7
Active Listening
40%
Skills Overview
Operation and Control
advanced5.0
100%
Operations Monitoring
advanced4.5
90%
Equipment Maintenance
intermediate4.0
80%
Monitoring
intermediate3.5
70%
Troubleshooting
intermediate3.0
60%
Coordination
basic2.5
50%
Active Listening
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Operation and Control
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Operations Monitoring
advancedImportance90%
skills
4.5/5.0
Equipment Maintenance
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance70%
skills
3.5/5.0
Troubleshooting
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance50%
skills
2.5/5.0
Active Listening
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Logging Equipment Operators75%
5 shared skills
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators75%
5 shared skills
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders71%
5 shared skills
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers70%
5 shared skills
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators70%
5 shared skills
Roof Bolters, Mining70%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Learn on the Job:
- →Troubleshooting
- →Coordination
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Equipment Maintenance
- ✓Operation and Control
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Equipment Maintenance
- ★Operation and Control
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Pile Driver Operators
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Excel
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
5
Core Tasks
5
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (5)
1
Move hand and foot levers of hoisting equipment to position piling leads, hoist piling into leads, and position hammers over pilings.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Drive pilings to provide support for buildings or other structures, using heavy equipment with a pile driver head.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Move levers and turn valves to activate power hammers, or to raise and lower drophammers that drive piles to required depths.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •100% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Pile Driver Operators
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Pile Driver Operators professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Pile Driver Operators
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.51
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.33
Concern for Others
ImportantConcern for Others
Importance Level3.98
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.94
Stress Tolerance
ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level3.93
Cooperation
ImportantCooperation
Importance Level3.91
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.5
Attention to Detail
4.3
Concern for Others
4.0
Self-Control
3.9
Stress Tolerance
3.9
Cooperation
3.9
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.7
Initiative
3.6
Integrity
3.5
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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