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Career Exploration

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

Also called: Dragline Oiler, Dragline Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Loader Operator

What they do:

Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.

On the job, you would:
  • Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
  • Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
  • Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
On the job, you'll need:

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical
  • building and construction

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • figuring out how to use new ideas or things

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Controlled Movement

  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady

Spatial

  • know where things are around you
  • imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed

Vision

  • decide which thing is closer or farther away from you or decide how far away it is from you

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity

Electronic mail software

  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Industrial control software

  • Machine control systems
  • Machine monitoring software

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Below Average.

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $48,350

Education

High school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED is usually needed.