Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

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Job Outlook:
None
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Salary
High: $76,900.00
Average: $53,490.00
Hourly
Average: $25.72

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.

Personality

A3 Your Strengths Importance

Characteristics of this Career

83% Dependability  -  Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
74% Attention to Detail  -  Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
67% Stress Tolerance  -  Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
65% Adaptability/Flexibility  -  Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
65% Integrity  -  Job requires being honest and ethical.
65% Cooperation  -  Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Strengths

100% Realistic  -  Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Values of the Work Environment

61% Support  -  Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3 Your Strengths Importance

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

78% Control Precision  -  The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
78% Multilimb Coordination  -  The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
75% Depth Perception  -  The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
72% Manual Dexterity  -  The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
72% Reaction Time  -  The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
69% Response Orientation  -  The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
69% Arm-Hand Steadiness  -  The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
69% Rate Control  -  The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
69% Far Vision  -  The ability to see details at a distance.
66% Spatial Orientation  -  The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
66% Near Vision  -  The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Job Details

Responsibilities
Operate excavation equipment.
Inspect material-moving equipment to detect problems.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Maintain professional knowledge or certifications.
Operate excavation equipment.
Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition.
Move materials, equipment, or supplies.
Measure product or material dimensions.
Verify information or specifications.
Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
Operate excavation equipment.
Operate excavation equipment.
Shovel materials.
Direct material handling or moving activities.
Direct material handling or moving activities.
Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
Maintain work equipment or machinery.
Clean facilities or work areas.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

99% Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets  -  How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
93% Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls  -  How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
88% Face-to-Face Discussions  -  How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
87% Work With Work Group or Team  -  How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
85% Contact With Others  -  How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
85% Exposed to Whole Body Vibration  -  How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (e.g., operate a jackhammer)?
85% Exposed to Contaminants  -  How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
78% Frequency of Decision Making  -  How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
77% Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions  -  How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
77% Outdoors, Exposed to Weather  -  How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
77% Exposed to Hazardous Equipment  -  How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
76% Freedom to Make Decisions  -  How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
76% Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable  -  How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
76% Spend Time Sitting  -  How much does this job require sitting?
76% In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment  -  How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
75% Responsible for Others' Health and Safety  -  How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
73% Structured versus Unstructured Work  -  To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
73% Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment  -  How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
70% Importance of Being Exact or Accurate  -  How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
69% Consequence of Error  -  How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
68% Very Hot or Cold Temperatures  -  How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
67% In an Open Vehicle or Equipment  -  How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or equipment (e.g., tractor)?
66% Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results  -  What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
65% Coordinate or Lead Others  -  How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
91% Duration of Typical Work Week  -  Number of hours typically worked in one week.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Tasks & Values

91% Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment  -  Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
85% Controlling Machines and Processes  -  Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
85% Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials  -  Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
80% Handling and Moving Objects  -  Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
77% Getting Information  -  Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
77% Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates  -  Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
76% Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings  -  Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
75% Making Decisions and Solving Problems  -  Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
73% Performing General Physical Activities  -  Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
72% Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events  -  Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
72% Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards  -  Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
68% Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment  -  Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Getting Started

Education:
71%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
23%
Less than a High School Diploma

Information provided by CareerFitter, LLC and other sources.

Sections of this page includes information from the O*NET 27.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

CareerFitter, LLC has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.