Service Branches
Work Environment
Construction equipment operators work outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions. They often sit for long periods and are subject to loud noise and vibrations. They may work indoors while repairing equipment.
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Military Status
Enlisted
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Median Military Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.
$58,891
Military Salary Range Salary varies based on years of service, degree level, special pays, family status and location.
$23,066 - $241,311
Overview
Construction equipment operators perform or manage the use of bulldozers, cranes, graders, and other heavy equipment in military construction. They manage daily activities devoted to the construction and maintenance of concrete and asphalt runways, structural systems and wooden, masonry, metal, and concrete buildings, aircraft parking aprons, and roads. They direct and coordinate the efforts of crews in the use of earth moving, quarrying, well, mixing, asphalt batching, and paving equipment. They also oversee demolition efforts and ensure adherence to environmental regulations.
Military Training
All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for construction equipment operators consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in operating construction equipment. Training content varies depending on specialty, and may include:
- Operation of different types of construction and rough terrain equipment
- Preventive maintenance and repair of equipment
- General construction principles and information
- Identification of soil types and placement of grade stakes
- Shop operations and record keeping
Helpful Attributes
- Interest in operating heavy construction equipment
- Preference for working outdoors
Related Civilian Careers
- Rock Splitters, Quarry
- Paving, Surfacing and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Construction Managers
- Riggers
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
- Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
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