Material Moving Machine Operators
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects.
Work Environment: Most material moving machine operators work full time, and overtime for them is common. Because materials are shipped around the clock, some operators—especially those in warehousing—work overnight shifts.
How to Become One: Education and training requirements vary by occupation. Crane operators and excavating machine operators usually have several years of experience in related occupations.
Salary: The median annual wage for material moving machine operators is $38,380.
Job Outlook: Overall employment of material moving machine operators is projected to grow 7 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of material moving machine operators with similar occupations.
What Material Moving Machine Operators Do[About this section] [To Top]
Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine. Others move goods around a warehouse or onto container ships.
Duties of Material Moving Machine Operators
Material moving machine operators typically do the following:
- Set up and inspect material moving equipment
- Control equipment with levers, wheels, or foot pedals
- Move material according to a plan or schedule
- Signal and direct workers to load, unload, and position materials
- Keep a record of the material they move and where they move it to
- Make minor repairs to their equipment
In warehouses, most material moving machine operators use forklifts and conveyor belts. Wireless sensors and tags are increasingly being used to keep track of merchandise, allowing operators to locate them faster. Some operators also check goods for damage. These operators usually work closely with hand laborers and material movers.
Many operators work for underground and surface mining companies. They help to dig or expose the mine, remove the earth and rock, and extract coal, ore, and other mined materials.
In construction, material moving machine operators remove earth to clear space for buildings. Some work on a building site for the entire length of the construction project. For example, certain material moving machine operators help to construct highrise buildings by transporting materials to workers who are far above ground level.
All material moving machine operators are responsible for the safe operation of their equipment or vehicle.
The following are examples of types of material moving machine operators:
Conveyor operators and tenders control conveyor systems that move materials on an automatic belt. They move materials to and from places such as storage areas, vehicles, and building sites. They monitor sensors on the conveyor to regulate the speed with which the conveyor belt moves. Operators also may check the shipping order and determine the route that materials take along a conveyor.
Crane and tower operators use tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machinery, or other heavy objects. From a control station, operators can extend and retract horizontal booms, rotate the superstructure, and lower and raise hooks attached to cables at the end of their crane or tower. Operators usually are guided by workers on the ground who use hand signals or who transmit voice signals through a radio. Most crane and tower operators work at construction sites or major ports, where they load and unload cargo. Some operators work in iron and steel mills.
Dredge operators excavate waterways. They operate equipment on the water to remove sand, gravel, or rock from harbors or lakes. Removing these materials helps to prevent erosion and maintain navigable waterways, and allows larger ships to use ports. Dredging also is used to help restore wetlands and maintain beaches.
Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators use machines equipped with scoops or shovels. They dig sand, earth, or other materials and load them onto conveyors or into trucks for transport elsewhere. They may also move material within a confined area, such as a construction site. Operators typically receive instructions from workers on the ground through hand signals or through voice signals transmitted by radio. Most of these operators work in construction or mining industries.
Hoist and winch operators, also called derrick operators, control the movement of platforms, cables, and cages that transport workers or materials in industrial operations, such as constructing a highrise building. Many of these operators raise platforms far above the ground. Operators regulate the speed of the equipment on the basis of the needs of the workers. Many work in manufacturing, mining, and quarrying industries.
Industrial truck and tractor operators drive trucks and tractors that move materials around warehouses, storage yards, or worksites. These trucks, often called forklifts, have a lifting mechanism and forks, which make them useful for moving heavy and large objects. Some industrial truck and tractor operators drive tractors that pull trailers loaded with material around factories or storage areas.
Underground mining loading machine operators load coal, ore, and other rocks onto shuttles, mine cars, or conveyors for transport from a mine to the surface. They may use power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with scrapers or scoops, and automatic gathering arms that move materials onto a conveyor. Operators also drive their machines farther into the mine in order to gather more material.
Work Environment for Material Moving Machine Operators[About this section] [To Top]
Material moving machine operators hold about 852,200 jobs. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up material moving machine operators is distributed as follows:
| Industrial truck and tractor operators | 767,400 |
| Crane and tower operators | 45,100 |
| Conveyor operators and tenders | 34,600 |
| Hoist and winch operators | 3,200 |
| Dredge operators | 2,000 |
The largest employers of material moving machine operators are as follows:
| Warehousing and storage | 37% |
| Wholesale trade | 10% |
| Temporary help services | 8% |
| Food manufacturing | 5% |
| Construction | 3% |
Material moving machine operators work indoors and outdoors in a variety of industries.
Injuries and Illnesses for Material Moving Machine Operators
Hoist and winch operators have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Many workers wear personal protective equipment—including gloves, hardhats, and harnesses—to guard against injury.
Material Moving Machine Operator Work Schedules
Most material moving machine operators work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because materials are shipped around the clock, some work overnight shifts.
How to Become a Material Moving Machine Operator[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Material Moving Machine Operators near you!
Education and training requirements vary by occupation. Crane operators and excavating machine operators usually have several years of experience in related occupations, such as construction equipment operators or hoist or winch operators.
Education for Material Moving Machine Operators
Although no formal educational credential is usually required, some companies prefer to hire material moving machine operators who have a high school diploma. For crane and tower operators, excavating machine operators, and dredge operators, however, a high school diploma or equivalent typically is required.
Material Moving Machine Operator Training
Although most material moving machine operators are trained on the job in less than a month, the amount of time spent in training will vary with the type of machine. Some machines, such as cranes and towers, are more complex than others, such as industrial trucks and forklifts. Learning to operate a forklift or an industrial truck in warehouses, for example, may take only a few days; training to operate a crane for port operations may take several months. Most workers are trained by a supervisor or another experienced employee.
During their training, material moving machine operators learn a number of safety rules, many of which are standardized through the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Employers must certify that each operator has received the proper training. Operators who work with hazardous materials receive further specialized training.
The International Union of Operating Engineers offers apprenticeship programs for heavy-equipment operators, such as excavating machine operators or crane operators. Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with technical instruction.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Material Moving Machine Operators
A number of states and several cities require crane operators to be licensed. To get a license, operators typically must complete a skills test in which they show that they can control a crane. They also must pass a written exam that tests their knowledge of safety rules and procedures. Some crane operators and industrial truck and tractor operators may obtain certification, which includes passing a written exam.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation for Material Moving Machine Operators
Crane operators and excavating machine operators usually have several years of experience working as construction equipment operators, hoist and winch operators, or riggers and signalers.
Important Qualities for Material Moving Machine Operators
Alertness. Material moving machine operators must be aware of their surroundings while operating machinery.
Communication skills. Material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material. They also receive direction from workers on the ground when moving material.
Coordination. Material moving machine operators should have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely. They use hand controls to maneuver their machines through tight spaces, around large objects, and on uneven surfaces.
Mechanical skills. Material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them.
Visual ability. Material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving. They must also watch for nearby workers, who may unknowingly be in their path.
Material Moving Machine Operator Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for material moving machine operators is $38,380. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,810, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,220.
Median annual wages for material moving machine operators are as follows:
| Crane and tower operators | $62,240 |
| Hoist and winch operators | $52,300 |
| Dredge operators | $46,210 |
| Industrial truck and tractor operators | $38,380 |
| Conveyor operators and tenders | $36,420 |
The median annual wages for material moving machine operators in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Construction | $62,600 |
| Warehousing and storage | $38,810 |
| Food manufacturing | $38,080 |
| Wholesale trade | $38,010 |
| Temporary help services | $31,250 |
Most material moving machine operators work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because materials are shipped around the clock, some work overnight shifts.
Job Outlook for Material Moving Machine Operators[About this section] [To Top]
Overall employment of material moving machine operators is projected to grow 7 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 105,700 openings for material moving machine operators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Material Moving Machine Operators
Projected employment of material moving machine operators varies by occupation.
Material moving machine operators will be needed to move materials or products to and from various locations, such as warehouses, stockpiles, or processing stations. The continued growth in e-commerce will contribute to the amount of materials and products needing to be moved. However, the expansion of automated machinery may limit employment growth of material moving machine operators as technologies, such as sensors and scanners, improve operations and increase efficiencies.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Material moving machine operators | 852,200 | 909,100 | 7 | 56,900 |
| Conveyor operators and tenders | 34,600 | 37,000 | 7 | 2,400 |
| Crane and tower operators | 45,100 | 45,200 | 0 | 200 |
| Dredge operators | 2,000 | 2,100 | 3 | 100 |
| Hoist and winch operators | 3,200 | 3,200 | 1 | 0 |
| Industrial truck and tractor operators | 767,400 | 821,600 | 7 | 54,200 |
More Material Moving Machine Operator Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about careers as a material moving machine operator, visit
Warehousing Education and Research Council
International Union of Operating Engineers
National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.