Career fit quiz

Is Heavy Equipment Operator the Right Career for You?

A quick, free 8-question quiz to see how well the heavy equipment operator career fits your personality, preferences and goals.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How this quiz works

Rate how much you agree with each statement. The quiz compares your answers with the realities of the heavy equipment operator job and gives you an honest fit score in under two minutes. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

Statement 1 of 8I like operating machines and vehicles
Statement 2 of 8I have good depth perception and coordination
Statement 3 of 8I don’t mind dust, noise and outdoor conditions
Statement 4 of 8I can concentrate for long stretches
Statement 5 of 8I want an apprenticeship that pays while I learn
Statement 6 of 8Safety-critical work doesn’t make me nervous
Statement 7 of 8I’m willing to spend about Months to 4 years training for this career
Statement 8 of 8A typical salary around $59,850 a year would meet my needs

What this career really involves

Heavy equipment operators drive and control excavators, bulldozers, loaders, backhoes, graders and other machines used to dig, grade, lift and move material on construction, road and infrastructure projects.

  • Inspect equipment before each shift and report defects
  • Operate excavators, dozers, loaders, backhoes, graders and rollers
  • Dig, grade, load and move earth and materials to plan specifications
  • Read grade stakes, plans and GPS machine-control displays
  • Coordinate with spotters, laborers and truck drivers using hand signals and radios

Read a full day in the life or see heavy equipment operator salary data.

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