ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Mini Excavator Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Palumbo Services Inc

Landscape Foreman

Forest Lake, MN · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

Strong equipment skills, especially skid steers and mini excavators * High standards for cleanliness, efficiency, organization, and workmanship * Ability to manage crews firmly, professionally, and ...

Palumbo Services Inc

Landscape Foreman

Forest Lake, MN · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

Strong equipment skills, especially skid steers and mini excavators * High standards for cleanliness, efficiency, organization, and workmanship * Ability to manage crews firmly, professionally, and ...

City of Red Wing, MN

Electrician

Red Wing, MN · On-site

$37.28 - $50.06/hr

Use a front-end loader skid loader, mini excavator, trencher, plow, forklift, dump truck, telehandler, aerial bucket truck, pot hole machine, and rigid pipe bending and threading tools along with ...

City of Red Wing

Electrician

Red Wing, MN · On-site

$37.28 - $50.06/hr

Use a front-end loader skid loader, mini excavator, trencher, plow, forklift, dump truck, telehandler, aerial bucket truck, pot hole machine, and rigid pipe bending and threading tools along with ...

ASV HOLDINGS, Inc.

Warehouse Clerk

Grand Rapids, MN · On-site

$19/hr

Warehouse Clerk Yanmar Compact Equipment North America designs, manufactures and supports a complete range of compact equipment including compact track loaders, mini excavators, wheel loaders and ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsMini Excavator JobsMini Excavator Jobs in Minnesota

Mini Excavator information

See Minnesota salary details

$13

$25

$40

How much do mini excavator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for mini excavator in Minnesota is $25.62, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.20 and $28.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a mini excavator?

A Mini Excavator job involves operating a compact excavator to dig, move, and grade earth on construction or landscaping sites. Operators use the machine to perform tasks like trenching, backfilling, and site preparation in confined or small areas. This role requires knowledge of safety procedures, equipment maintenance, and efficient machine handling. Many employers prefer candidates with prior experience or certification in heavy equipment operation.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a mini excavator operator?

A Mini Excavator Operator’s daily tasks typically include inspecting and maintaining their equipment, reading site plans, precisely digging, trenching, and backfilling as required by the job. Operators often work closely with supervisors, site managers, and other equipment operators to ensure each phase of a project is completed on schedule and within safety guidelines. In addition to hands-on operating duties, they may assist with site preparation, material moving, and routine documentation of work completed. This role offers variety each day and requires good communication and teamwork on busy worksites.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the mini excavator position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Mini Excavator Operator, you need hands-on experience operating compact excavating equipment, strong mechanical aptitude, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Knowledge of safety protocols, proficiency with controls specific to mini excavators, and, in some cases, possession of relevant certifications such as OSHA safety training are typically required. Attention to detail, reliability, and clear communication help operators succeed on job sites and coordinate with team members effectively. These skills ensure safe, precise excavation work and smooth collaboration within construction or landscaping projects.

What jobs can I do with a mini excavator?

Mini excavators are used in various construction and landscaping jobs, including trenching, digging foundations, utility installation, grading, and small-scale demolition. They are suitable for work in confined spaces and require operator certification and safety training. These machines are commonly employed in residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.

What are popular job titles related to Mini Excavator jobs in Minnesota?

For Mini Excavator jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Mini Excavator jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Mini Excavator jobs in Minnesota are:

What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Mini Excavator jobs?

Cities in Minnesota with the most Mini Excavator job openings:

Mini Excavator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Mini Excavator job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $53,288 per year, or $25.6 per hour.

Landscape Foreman

Palumbo Services Inc

Forest Lake, MN • On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

Full-time

PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Lead and manage a crew on shoreline restoration projects, ensuring high standards and project completion.

  • Operate equipment such as skid steers and mini excavators to perform grading, boulder placement, riprap installation, and other site work.

  • Solve problems independently and maintain organization, cleanliness, and efficiency on job sites.

Job description

We Restore Higher-end Shorelines | Including General Landscaping

We are looking for a proven field leader who can walk onto a complex jobsite, take control of a crew, operate equipment skillfully, solve problems independently, maintain high standards, and get projects completed efficiently and professionally.
This is a leadership position for someone who already knows how to both complete jobs, and run jobs.
Our company specializes in high-end shoreline restoration projects throughout Minnesota and surrounding states. Projects include grading, boulder placement, retaining walls, erosion control, excavation, riprap installation, drainage, concrete steps, heavy equipment operation, and complete lakefront transformations.
Why does this ad say “construction/landscape foreman”? Because there really is no common “shoreline restoration foreman” position in this industry. The closest fit is typically an experienced landscape or construction foreman who already understands grading, rock work, equipment operation, crew management, site logistics, and jobsite production. That said, this is NOT a traditional landscaping position.
If your passion is spending every day installing paver patios, outdoor kitchens, decorative lighting, and sod projects, this may not be the right fit for you. While we do occasionally build patios, retaining walls, fire pits, and other landscape features alongside the shoreline, the majority of our work happens directly on the shoreline involving rock, dirt, geotextile fabric, grading, riprap, erosion control, hand labor, and equipment work.
This is not a clipboard foreman position. You will work alongside the crew while leading from the front.
What we’re looking for:
• 10+ years of serious landscape, excavation, or construction experience
• Current or recent foreman/superintendent experience
• Strong equipment skills, especially skid steers and mini excavators
• High standards for cleanliness, efficiency, organization, and workmanship
• Ability to manage crews firmly, professionally, and productively
• Ability to think independently and solve problems without constant supervision
• Someone physically capable of working hard alongside the crew
• Someone who values discipline, urgency, accountability, and professionalism
• Someone who lives within roughly 30 minutes of Forest Lake, MN


What matters to us:
• Jobs stay organized
• Equipment stays clean
• Crews stay productive
• Customers stay impressed
• Mistakes, damage, and laziness stay rare
This is a high-performance operation. We are not interested in constant smoke breaks, dragging jobs out, endless gas station stops, sloppy work, or excuse-making.


What we offer:
• Up to six-figure compensation for the right person
• Year-round employment
• Newer high-end trucks and equipment
• Significant autonomy and authority in the field
• Opportunity to help run and grow a specialized niche company (as well as a unique niche winter business)
• PTO and paid holidays
• No corporate nonsense
Important:
If you are currently a strong foreman but feel underutilized, underpaid, surrounded by weak workers, or tired of poorly run jobsites, this position may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
If you are inexperienced, unreliable, constantly job-hopping, physically unable to keep up, or looking for a temporary stepping-stone job, this is not the position for you.
To apply, reply with:
• Your experience
• Current position
• Equipment experience
• Foreman/leadership background
• Why you’re considering leaving your current company
• Your general location
We are looking for someone who wants to take ownership of field operations long-term, not just collect a paycheck.

Company Description

We are a shoreline restoration company that focuses on shoreline erosion (riprap), shoreline access (stairs, ramps, etc.), and shoreline fun (patios, fire pits, beaches, etc.).