Pile Driver Operators
Pile Driver, Pile Driver Operator, Pile Driving Operator
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
- Move hand and foot levers of hoisting equipment to position piling leads, hoist piling into leads, and position hammers over pilings.
- Move levers and turn valves to activate power hammers, or to raise and lower drophammers that drive piles to required depths.
- Drive pilings to provide support for buildings or other structures, using heavy equipment with a pile driver head.
Knowledge
Engineering and Technology
- building and construction
- mechanical
Math and Science
- arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Transportation
- movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Safety and Government
- public safety and security
Skills
Basic Skills
- keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
- listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Abilities
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
- imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed
- know where things are around you
Attention
- pay attention to something without being distracted
Personality
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Concern for Others
- Self Control
- Cooperation
- Stress Tolerance
Technology
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
Analytical or scientific software
- GRL Engineers Wave Equation Analysis Program GRLWEAP
- Pile Dynamics Pile Driving Analyzer PDA
Electronic mail software
- Email software
Education
Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
certificate after high school
usually needed
certificate after high school
usually needed
Get started on your career:
Find Training
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov
Job Outlook
Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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You might like a career in one of these industries:
See more details at O*NET OnLine about pile driver operators.