# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pile-driver-operators
- SOC code: 47-2072.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $73,300 (10th percentile $48,790, 90th percentile $124,600)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.7%
- Openings a year: 200
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 16 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 2 |
| Conventional (C) | 44 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 92/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 90/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 89/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 85/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 82/100)
- Getting Information (importance 80/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 78/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 72/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 71/100)

## 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

## 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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Ground Transportation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4902) (CIP 4902, 213 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Ground Transportation | $54,938 | $62,389 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/operating-engineers-and-other-construction-equipment-operators): $59,850 median pay
- [Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-truck-and-tractor-operators): $46,420 median pay
- [Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/excavating-and-loading-machine-and-dragline-operators-surface-mining): $57,430 median pay
- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay
- [Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/paving-surfacing-and-tamping-equipment-operators): $53,340 median pay
- [Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mobile-heavy-equipment-mechanics-except-engines): $65,510 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.