Excavator Operator: What is the cost of hiring?

What is an excavator operator?

An excavator operator is a skilled professional responsible for safely maneuvering heavy excavation machinery to dig, move and grade earth on construction and earthworks projects. Their expertise ensures precise execution of site preparation, trenching, foundation work and other tasks, significantly impacting project efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness.

Why hire an excavator operator?

Hiring an excavator operator ensures safe and precise handling of heavy machinery for site preparation, trenching and foundation work, supporting efficient project completion and cost control. Their expertise boosts productivity and maintains strict safety standards. Companies may consider hiring when upcoming projects demand specialized earthmoving, timelines are tight or current staff lack certified equipment operation skills.

Contributions of a great excavator operator:

• ensures safe and precise earthmoving for site preparation and construction
• boosts project productivity, and maintains strict safety standards
• supports efficient timelines and effective cost control by expertly handling machinery

Defining your hiring needs for an excavator operator

Assess your project’s earthmoving requirements, timeline and current staff qualifications to determine the precise scope of work and necessary skill level for an excavator operator. Establish a clear budget, select the appropriate job title and decide whether the role should be full-time, part-time or freelance based on project duration and workload. If there’s potential for confusion, distinguish the excavator operator from similar roles such as general equipment operator, ensuring your job listing targets candidates with specialized certification and site-specific experience.

What are the types of excavator operators?

When writing your excavator operator job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on excavator operator jobs, according to Indeed data:

• heavy equipment operator
• excavator operator
• equipment operator
• construction
• operator
• excavator
• labourer
• loader operator
• fly in fly out

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Where to find an excavator operator?

To find the right excavator operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Trade associations: Connect with national and provincial construction trade associations, such as the Canadian Construction Association or local chapters, which often maintain job boards and host career fairs.
• Networking: Attend industry-specific networking events like BuildForce Canada workshops or regional trade shows where experienced operators and specialized contractors gather.
• Job boards: Utilize online job platforms focused on skilled trades, such as Indeed or trades-specific portals like Careers in Construction.
• Community forums: Leverage community forums or social media groups dedicated to construction professionals, ensuring outreach to niche audiences across Canada’s regions.
• Post your job online: Try posting your excavator operator job on Indeed to find and attract quality excavator operator candidates.

Skills to look for in an excavator operator

A successful excavator operator candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• expertise in maneuvering and controlling excavator machinery with precision
• strong understanding of site safety protocols and hazard mitigation
• ability to read and interpret site plans, blueprints and grade specifications
• mechanical aptitude for routine maintenance and troubleshooting equipment issues
• practical communication skills for coordinating with site supervisors and team members
• certification in heavy equipment operation and relevant safety training

Writing an excavator operator job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular job-seeker search terms and hiring insights for an excavator operator, you’re ready to write a job description.

An excavator operator job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing excavator operator job descriptions.

Interviewing excavator operator candidates

Strong candidates for excavator operator positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Technical skills and machine operation: Ask questions about experience with different types of excavators, controls, attachments and maneuvering techniques.
• Safety practices and protocols: Cover scenarios addressing site safety procedures, hazard identification and responses to emergencies or near-miss events.
• Site plan interpretation and communication: Assess ability to read blueprints, grade stakes and communicate effectively with supervisors and crew.
• Troubleshooting and equipment maintenance: Evaluate mechanical aptitude in diagnosing issues, performing routine maintenance and minimizing downtime.
• Project experience and problem-solving: Probe for examples of adapting to challenging conditions, meeting deadlines and collaborating to resolve unexpected site issues.

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of excavator operator interview questions for examples (with sample answers).