Built Environment
Heavy Equipment Operator
Infrastructure is still moved by people.
AI Risk Score: 3/10
Score is our body/liability/scarcity rubric, calibrated against public AI-exposure research.
Data last reviewed: 2026-02-25
What you actually do
Operate excavators, loaders, graders, and cranes for construction and infrastructure projects.
Why AI does not easily replace it
Site variability and safety-critical maneuvering keep human operators essential.
What it pays
$46,000 - $83,000
BLS OOH: Construction Equipment Operators (May 2024 pay)
Salary benchmark year: 2024
How to get in
Union/non-union apprenticeship + equipment and safety certifications.
Estimated time to entry: ~18 months (path-dependent).
State-by-state training and licensing links
- Apprenticeship.gov: Registered apprenticeship job finder
- U.S. DOL: State apprenticeship agencies directory
Where demand is growing
Infrastructure and utility upgrades sustain hiring cycles.
Ready to explore?
Compare this career in the full directory, or run the exposure calculator against your current role.
"The moat is not a prompt. It is responsibility in the real world."