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Per Diem Excavator Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Virginia Paving

Excavator Operator

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$21.75 - $28.75/hr

... Excavator Operator will work in close proximity to equipment and people and operate a excavator to ... per day. Employee must be able to stand for extended periods of time, and to stoop, bend, and ...

Southland Holdings

Excavator Operator

El Paso, TX · On-site

$17.75 - $23.25/hr

Equipment Operator - Excavator Heavy civil contractor specializing in large diameter open cut and ... Working 5-6 days per week 50-60 hours. Competitive pay, Health/Dental/Vision, 401K Match. Southland ...

Aerotek

Excavator Operator

Winchester, IN

$20 - $26.50/hr

Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator - Drilling Operator) Join a high-performing civil construction ... When working away from home, hotel accommodations are covered and you will receive a daily per diem ...

Blythe Construction Inc

Excavator Operator

High Point, NC · On-site

$20.50 - $27.25/hr

... per day. Employee must be able to stand for extended periods of time, and to stoop, bend, and ... The Excavator Operator must be able to climb on and off heavy mobile equipment safely. * Work ...

M&M Recycling

Excavator Operator

Locust Grove, GA · On-site

$20 - $24/hr

Excavator Operator Company Overview M&M Recycling is a family-owned scrap metal recycling company ... Compensation and Benefits * $22-$26 per hour * Paid time off and holidays * Full-time, steady work ...

Jurgensen Companies

Excavator Operator

Walton, KY

$20.75 - $27.50/hr

Ability to safely mount and dismount heavy equipment multiple times per shift. * Could be asked to ... Proven experience as an excavator operator in underground utility and earthwork environments

Fred Smith Company

Excavator Operator

High Point, NC · On-site

$20.50 - $27.25/hr

Excavator Operator The Excavator Operator will work in close proximity to equipment and people and ... per day. Employee must be able to stand for extended periods of time, and to stoop, bend, and ...

Southland Holdings LLC

Excavator Operator

El Paso, TX · On-site

$20.25 - $27/hr

Equipment Operator - Excavator Heavy civil contractor specializing in large diameter open cut and ... Working 5-6 days per week 50-60 hours. Competitive pay, Health/Dental/Vision, 401K Match. Southland ...

SMITH ROWE, LLC

Excavator Operator

High Point, NC · On-site

$20.50 - $27.25/hr

Excavator Operator The Excavator Operator will work in close proximity to equipment and people and ... per day. Employee must be able to stand for extended periods of time, and to stoop, bend, and ...

Phillips, Inc.

Production Excavator Operator

Morenci, AZ · On-site

$25 - $35/hr

Wages: $25 - $35 per Hour $135 Daily Per Diem Shift and Schedule: 5-6-Day Work Week 12 Hour Shifts Summary: Phillips is seeking experienced Production Excavator Operators to support our mining team ...

Caton's Plumbing

Excavator Operator

Catonsville, MD · On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

Overview Excavator Operator Catons Plumbing & Drain Service, located in Catonsville, has been ... Salary Range for this position is approximately: $75,000-$95,000 per year. Commissioned, non-exempt ...

Hubbard Construction Company

Excavator Operator

Lakeland, FL · On-site

$21 - $27.75/hr

... per day. Employee must be able to stand for extended periods of time, and to stoop, bend, and ... The Excavator Operator must be able to climb on and off heavy mobile equipment safely. * The ...

Caton's Plumbing

Excavator Operator

Catonsville, MD

$75K - $95K/yr

Overview Excavator Operator Catons Plumbing & Drain Service, located in Catonsville, has been ... Salary Range for this position is approximately: $75,000-$95,000 per year. Commissioned, non-exempt ...

Southland Holdings

Excavator Operator

El Paso, TX · On-site

$20.25 - $27/hr

Equipment Operator - Excavator Heavy civil contractor specializing in large diameter open cut and ... Working 5-6 days per week 50-60 hours. Competitive pay, Health/Dental/Vision, 401K Match. Southland ...

Hubbard Construction Company

Excavator Operator

Orlando, FL · On-site

$21 - $27.75/hr

... per day. Employee must be able to stand for extended periods of time, and to stoop, bend, and ... The Excavator Operator must be able to climb on and off heavy mobile equipment safely. * The ...

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All JobsPer Diem Excavator Operator Jobs

Per Diem Excavator Operator information

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$41

How much do per diem excavator operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for per diem excavator operator in the United States is $26.16, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.63 and $28.61 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Per Diem Excavator Operator vs Contract Excavator Operator?

AspectPer Diem Excavator OperatorContract Excavator Operator
CredentialsOSHA certification, valid excavator licenseOSHA certification, valid excavator license
Work EnvironmentProject sites, often on a daily basisProject sites, typically for specific contracts
Employment TypePaid daily or weekly, with per diem allowancesPaid per contract or project, often hourly or daily
UsageCommon in temporary or short-term projectsUsed for specific project-based work

Both Per Diem and Contract Excavator Operators require similar certifications and work in construction sites. The main difference lies in their employment structure: Per Diem Operators are paid daily with allowances, while Contract Operators work on specific projects for a set period. Understanding these differences helps job seekers choose the right employment type for their needs.

More about Per Diem Excavator Operator jobs
What cities are hiring for Per Diem Excavator Operator jobs? Cities with the most Per Diem Excavator Operator job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Excavator Operator jobs? The most popular types of Excavator Operator jobs are:
What states have the most Per Diem Excavator Operator jobs? States with the most job openings for Per Diem Excavator Operator jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Per Diem Excavator Operator jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Per Diem Excavator Operator jobs are:
Per Diem Excavator Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Per Diem Excavator Operator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,408 per year, or $26.2 per hour.

Excavator Operator - Construction (Seasonal)

Knife River Corporation

Bemidji, MN • On-site

$35/hr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday

Knife River rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 63 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

229th of 538 rated manufacturers

Job description

Good Pay! Good Benefits! Good People! Knife River is a PEOPLE-first company. Our team members are key to our success, and we are committed to giving them the tools, training, and time to do their jobs productively and go home safely each day. Please consider joining our growing team today!
At Knife River, we take care of our team because we know it's our people who make us successful. We are one of the 10 largest construction materials producers/contractors in the Country. Our goal is to build strong teams that, in turn, build strong communities. We are also a publicly traded company on the NYSE with the ticker symbol KNF and part of the S&P MidCap 400 index.
This is a Local 49 Operating Engineer Union position. The Excavator Operator is responsible for operating heavy equipment to excavate, move, and grade earth, rock, and other materials on construction sites. This role ensures safe and efficient operation of excavators to support the construction and maintenance of roads, highways, and related infrastructure. Maintenance of equipment and hand work related to site construction projects should be expected.
This is a seasonal position that generally requires travel through Northern Minnesota and North Dakota with other work locations as assigned. Lodging assistance (generally in the form of a Per Diem) is provided.
DUTIES AND/OR RESPONSIBILITIES (summary of components that make up the job)
  1. Perform daily equipment, walk around and site inspections to identify and correct any unsafe conditions and keep equipment properly
    maintained.
  2. Safely and properly perform maintenance (lubricating, fueling and cleaning) on excavation equipment.
  3. Safely and properly operate excavation equipment
  4. Communicate effectively (verbal, listening, written) and work with difficult people under high stress situations. Self-motivated, team-player with
    good interpersonal skills; ability to maintain positive customer relations and act courteous/respectful of others.
  5. Troubleshoot and problem solve situations/problems (material quality, equipment operation/repair, etc.). Monitor and discuss production
    problems with co-workers and managers/supervisors.
  6. Ensure MSHA, OSHA, EPA, DNR, safety and environmental regulation compliance.
    Constantly working in an environment with: Sitting, reaching and handling.
  7. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (minimum educational, experience, or other relevant job requirements)
  1. A successful Excavator Operator for Knife River Materials will have:
  2. A strong desire to work safe
  3. A high school diploma, GED, or equivalent critical thinking skills
  4. A valid driver's license with acceptable driving record with a CDL preferred
  5. Knowledge and/or experience with a variety of heavy equipment
  6. 3+ Years work with an Excavator in a construction environment or similar experience strongly preferred but not required

COMPENSATION:
Estimated Wage: $35.00 to 46.61 Per Hour-depending on work location
BENEFITS:
Benefits are through the Local 49 Operating Engineers Union
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
If unable to apply online, mail completed application to:
ATTN HR PO Box 40 Bemidji, MN 56619
Knife River is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other protected category under applicable state/federal law.
Subject to pre-employment drug testing and background check.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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