Material moving machine operators held about 679,900 jobs in 2014. They worked in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, and wholesale trade. Some material moving machine operators worked in construction and mining.
Employment in the detailed occupations that make up this group in 2014 was distributed as follows:
Industrial truck and tractor operators
530,900
Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators
53,900
Crane and tower operators
45,500
Conveyor operators and tenders
39,700
Loading machine operators, underground mining
4,800
Hoist and winch operators
2,900
Dredge operators
2,200
Injuries and Illnesses
Some material moving machine operator jobs can be dangerous. For example, crane operators work outdoors at great heights in all types of weather.
Crane and tower operators, industrial truck and tractor operators, and excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, all have higher rates of injuries and illnesses than the national average.
Many workers wear gloves, hardhats, or respirators.
Work Schedules
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.
