10 of the Most Popular Types of Excavation Operator Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Excavation Operator jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Excavation Operator Jobs

• Heavy Equipment Operator

  Salary range: $40,500 - $56,000

  Heavy Equipment Operator jobs require the safe and proper use of various types of heavy machinery in a large construction or demolition environment. The tasks of a Heavy Equipment Operator vary depending on the type of job and machinery. Examples of heavy equipment include bulldozers, excavators, loaders, and backhoes. Heavy equipment operators most commonly work in construction, oil and gas pipelines, and logging.

• Excavation

  Salary range: $37,000 - $57,500

  Excavation is a common job search query. Most salaries for Excavation jobs pay between $37,000 (25th percentile) and $57,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Excavation job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Excavator Operator Mining

  Salary range: $45,000 - $59,500

  Excavator Operator Mining is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Excavator Operator Mining jobs pay between $45,000 (25th percentile) and $59,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Excavator Operator Mining job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Heavy Equipment Operator Union

  Salary range: $40,500 - $56,000

  Heavy Equipment Operator Union is a common job search query. Most salaries for Heavy Equipment Operator Union jobs pay between $40,500 (25th percentile) and $56,000 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Heavy Equipment Operator Union job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Backhoe Operator

  Salary range: $46,500 - $61,500

  A backhoe operator, sometimes known as a heavy equipment operator, runs a backhoe—an excavation machine with a large digger bucket attached by a hinged arm. Their responsibilities include the moving or removing of soil and other materials on a construction site. They may also make light repairs on the equipment.

• Heavy Equipment

  Salary range: $62,500 - $76,000

  Heavy equipment jobs are typically within the construction or industrial maintenance industries. The two main categories of heavy equipment jobs are heavy equipment operator and heavy equipment mechanic. As a heavy equipment operator, you are in charge of running large pieces of equipment to help build or maintain roads, bridges, large structures, and tunnels or pipelines. Your job duties may include operating bulldozers, front-end loaders, or backhoes responsibly during large projects. Heavy equipment mechanics, on the other hand, help to keep this equipment in working order for the operators by working on engines and other moving parts of the machinery.

• Entry Level Excavator

  Salary range: $45,000 - $59,500

  Entry Level Excavator is a typical job search query Most salaries for Entry Level Excavator jobs pay between $45,000 (25th percentile) and $59,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Entry Level Excavator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Excavator Owner Operator

  Salary range: $45,000 - $59,500

  Excavator Owner Operator is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Excavator Owner Operator jobs pay between $45,000 (25th percentile) and $59,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Excavator Owner Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Construction Equipment Operator

  Salary range: $44,500 - $57,000

  Construction equipment operator is an umbrella term that can cover many different careers. Generally speaking, a construction equipment operator is an individual who operates some form of heavy machinery used in the construction of building, roads, bridges, or other structures. In this position, your duties vary with the type of equipment and projects on which you work. In most cases, you use heavy machinery to move, excavate, extract, or dig up dirt and maneuver or lift construction materials at a construction site. You are also responsible for cleaning and maintaining your equipment, following proper safety standards, and assisting your fellow crew members to do the same.

• Entry Level Excavator Operator

  Salary range: $45,000 - $59,500

  Entry Level Excavator Operator is a typical job search query Most salaries for Entry Level Excavator Operator jobs pay between $45,000 (25th percentile) and $59,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Entry Level Excavator Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.