Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
Clean, lubricate, and refill equipment.
Top skills:Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringMonitoringEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingCoordination
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Pile Driver Operator pay by experience level
Entry level$50,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$60,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$76,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$110,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$129,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
300
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Pile Driver Operator salary by industry
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
1,300 workers
$84,500
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
610 workers
$83,500
Specialty Trade Contractors
540 workers
$94,000
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
490 workers
$95,500
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
270 workers
$89,000
Construction of Buildings
260 workers
$68,500
Nonresidential Building Construction
240 workers
$67,500
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
220 workers
$106,000
Utility System Construction
200 workers
$61,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
90 workers
$64,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Pile Driver Operator pays 28% above the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Pile Driver Operator make?
The average base salary for a Pile Driver Operator in the United States is $83,500 per year, or about $40.14 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $60,500 and $110,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Construction and Extraction roles?
The Construction and Extraction job family averages $65,000 across 63 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Pile Driver Operator pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
