SOC 47-2072.00

    Pile Driver Operators

    Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.

    Median pay
    $73,300
    Growth
    -5.7%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    200
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $48,790
    Median
    $73,300
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $124,600
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    2,310 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Pile driver operators control heavy machinery to drive pilings into the ground for foundations, bridges, and retaining walls. This career offers a median annual pay of $73,300, with top earners making over $124,600.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What pile driver operators do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Pile driver operators run specialized machinery mounted on barges, skids, crawler treads, or cranes to install support pilings for buildings, piers, and bulkheads. Their daily work centers on controlling machines and processes, operating heavy vehicles, and handling physical objects. Operators must inspect their equipment regularly, perform routine mechanical maintenance, and troubleshoot issues to ensure safe operations. This role requires strong skills in operation and control, operations monitoring, and coordination to align and drive pilings accurately.

    People drawn to this career typically have strong realistic interests, enjoying hands-on, practical work. Success in this field relies on knowledge of building and construction, mechanics, transportation, and public safety. Because they work with heavy equipment in dynamic construction environments, operators must possess work styles such as dependability, cautiousness, attention to detail, and high stress tolerance. They must constantly monitor their surroundings, make quick decisions, and solve problems on-site to maintain safety and efficiency.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a high school diploma. Because this occupation is classified as needing some preparation, most workers gain the necessary skills through on-the-job training or prior construction experience. While formal college degrees are not standard, related educational programs in ground transportation can provide helpful foundational knowledge.

    Depending on where you plan to work, you may need to obtain a license, as some states regulate this occupation. Aspiring operators can build their credentials by focusing on mechanical skills, equipment operation, and safety procedures during their initial training period.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for pile driver operators was $73,300. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location, with the lowest ten percent earning under $48,790 and the highest ten percent earning above $124,600.

    There are 2,310 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to decline by -5.7%. Despite this contraction, about 200 job openings are still expected each year to replace workers who leave the occupation.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    16 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    0 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    2 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    44 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Controlling Machines and Processes
    92
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    90
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    89
    Handling and Moving Objects
    85
    Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    82
    Getting Information
    80
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    80
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    78
    Performing General Physical Activities
    72
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    71
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operation and Control
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Monitoring
    • Troubleshooting
    • Active Listening
    • Coordination
    • Critical Thinking
    • Quality Control Analysis
    • Time Management

    Knowledge

    • Building and Construction
    • Mechanical
    • Mathematics
    • Transportation
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Design
    • Production and Processing
    • Administration and Management
    • English Language

    Abilities

    • Control Precision
    • Depth Perception
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Reaction Time
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Rate Control
    • Response Orientation
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Selective Attention

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Attention to Detail
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Self-Confidence
    • Self-Control
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    Diesel Pile Hammer Operator · Driving Inspector · Driving Operator · Hoisting Pile Driving Engineer · Hydraulic Pile Hammer Operator · Hydraulic Press-In Operator · Nozzle Operator · Pile Driver · Pile Driver Engineer · Pile Driver Operator

    Career pathway

    From your interests to pile driver operators

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Pile Driver Operators$73,300 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Pennsylvania College of Technology

      Williamsport, PA · Ground Transportation · Associate

      1 yr after
      $54,938
      4 yrs after
      $62,389
      Median debt
      $12,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What pile driver operators may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    1 state lists a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about pile driver operators

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are also known as diesel pile hammer operators, driving inspectors, hydraulic pile hammer operators, and hoisting pile driving engineers.

    Is a college degree required to become a pile driver operator?

    No, a college degree is not typically required. A high school diploma combined with on-the-job training or experience is the standard preparation for this role.

    Do I need a license to operate pile drivers?

    Licensing requirements vary by location. Some states do list a license for this type of construction work, so you should check local regulations.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.