Talk to your school counselor about programs and classes like woodworking that are offered at your school so you can start learning skills that will get you started in this field.

Find a class to jump-start your construction skills.

Search online for how-to videos to see how hard this work is to master--and whether it's something you think you'd like. Does seeing this kind of work in action make you more interested in trying it?

Watch tutorials on how to do this kind of work.

Check out this behind-the-scenes video of a pile driving job. See how a diesel hammer works and learn what factors the workers pay attention to. Is this a career you're interested in?

Watch a video about a pile driving project.

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.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Third Interest High-Point

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

First Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Pile-Driver Operators

Construction Equipment Operators

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Construction Trades Workers

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.

Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment to ensure proper functioning.

Allen wrenches

Chain slings

Diesel hammers

Digital ammeters

Digital torque wrenches

Emergency first aid equipment

Excavator mounted pile drivers

Extension ladders

Filter wrenches

Fixed leads

Four-point harnesses

Global positioning system GPS receivers

Gravity drop hammers

Ground release shackles

Hand-operated pumps

Hoisting equipment

Hour meters

Hydraulic impact hammers

Life jackets

Lifting sling

Lubricant dispensing funnels

Mobile radios

Multipurpose fire extinguishers

On-board computers

Pile driving analyzers

Pile driving equipment

Pile extractors

Pile threaders

Portable air compressors

Portable generators

Protective ear muffs

Quick-disconnect hose couplers

Ratchet release shackles

Remote control pendants

Rope taglines

Safety goggles

Saximeters

Spreader beams

Swinging leads

Wire ropes

Data entry software

Email software

Global positioning system GPS software

GRL Engineers Wave Equation Analysis Program GRLWEAP

Microsoft Excel

Pile Dynamics Case Pile Wave Analysis Program CAPWAP

Pile Dynamics Pile Driving Analyzer PDA

Pile Driver Operators

Overview

Career

What Pile Driver Operators Do

Other Job Titles Pile Driver Operators May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Pile Driver Operators

Overview

Career

What Pile Driver Operators Do

Other Job Titles Pile Driver Operators May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Pile Driver Operators

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers