Pile Driver Operators
Pile Driver Operators (SOC 47-2072) earn a median $73,300 a year ($35.24 an hour) in the United States, with 2,310 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Massachusetts.
What pile driver operators do
Pile driver operators run the rigs that drive pilings into the ground to support retaining walls, bulkheads and the foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges and piers. The pile driver is mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads or locomotive cranes, so some of the work is done from a barge. The operator moves hand and foot levers on the hoisting equipment to position the piling leads, hoist a piling into the leads and set the hammer over it. Levers and valves then activate the power hammer, or raise and lower a drop hammer, to drive each pile to the required depth. Hammer types among the listed job titles include diesel and hydraulic hammers. Before work begins the operator conducts pre-operational checks to confirm the equipment works properly, and afterward cleans, lubricates and refills it. General operating engineers who run bulldozers, graders and similar machines (47-2073) are a different occupation.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or the equivalent as the education needed.
Also called: Diesel Pile Hammer Operator, Driving Inspector, Driving Operator, Hoisting Pile Driving Engineer, Hydraulic Pile Hammer Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.46 | $28.13 | $35.24 | $51.17 | $59.91 | $38.81 | 2,310 |
| Annual | $48,790 | $58,510 | $73,300 | $106,430 | $124,600 | $80,710 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where pile driver operators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $41.87 | $54.88 | $58.16 | $59.92 | $59.95 | $54.17 | 130 | 0.04 | 2.38 |
| Annual | $87,100 | $114,150 | $120,980 | $124,640 | $124,700 | $112,680 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $47.68 | $53.04 | $53.40 | $58.28 | $67.61 | $56.48 | 50 | 0.02 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $99,180 | $110,320 | $111,080 | $121,220 | $140,630 | $117,480 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $34.44 | $45.62 | $53.05 | $61.72 | $65.28 | $52.60 | 480 | 0.03 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $71,630 | $94,890 | $110,340 | $128,380 | $135,780 | $109,410 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $38.64 | $43.26 | $44.98 | $48.72 | $49.06 | $44.46 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $80,380 | $89,970 | $93,550 | $101,340 | $102,030 | $92,480 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $25.99 | $32.88 | $37.54 | $52.59 | $57.20 | $39.78 | 190 | 0.60 | 40.07 |
| Annual | $54,070 | $68,380 | $78,080 | $109,390 | $118,970 | $82,740 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $34.44 | $45.62 | $53.05 | $61.72 | $65.28 | $52.60 | 480 | 0.03 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $71,630 | $94,890 | $110,340 | $128,380 | $135,780 | $109,410 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.74 | $29.48 | $31.80 | $33.12 | $34.10 | $30.10 | 280 | 0.02 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $45,220 | $61,310 | $66,140 | $68,880 | $70,930 | $62,600 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.14 | $23.74 | $24.92 | $30.21 | $39.23 | $28.06 | 270 | 0.03 | 1.86 |
| Annual | $46,060 | $49,390 | $51,830 | $62,830 | $81,590 | $58,370 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $25.99 | $32.88 | $37.54 | $52.59 | $57.20 | $39.78 | 190 | 0.60 | 40.07 |
| Annual | $54,070 | $68,380 | $78,080 | $109,390 | $118,970 | $82,740 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $26.18 | $27.84 | $29.40 | $33.51 | $42.47 | $31.52 | 180 | 0.09 | 6.29 |
| Annual | $54,450 | $57,910 | $61,150 | $69,690 | $88,340 | $65,570 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $39.16 | $51.78 | $63.87 | $68.13 | $70.20 | $59.28 | 70 | 0.03 | 2.05 |
| Annual | $81,460 | $107,700 | $132,850 | $141,700 | $146,010 | $123,300 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $39.76 | $51.24 | $59.94 | $61.76 | $64.15 | $55.20 | 70 | 0.07 | 4.53 |
| Annual | $82,710 | $106,570 | $124,670 | $128,450 | $133,440 | $114,820 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $25.13 | $55.85 | $58.61 | $59.93 | $59.95 | $54.76 | 90 | 0.03 | 2.26 |
| Annual | $52,280 | $116,160 | $121,900 | $124,650 | $124,700 | $113,900 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $52.22 | $52.22 | $53.40 | $58.74 | $67.61 | $56.42 | 50 | 0.04 | 2.70 |
| Annual | $108,620 | $108,620 | $111,070 | $122,180 | $140,630 | $117,350 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $34.44 | $46.86 | $51.28 | $59.91 | $61.72 | $51.27 | 130 | 0.02 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $71,630 | $97,470 | $106,660 | $124,600 | $128,380 | $106,650 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $34.44 | $46.86 | $51.28 | $59.91 | $61.72 | $51.27 | 130 | 0.02 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $71,630 | $97,470 | $106,660 | $124,600 | $128,380 | $106,650 | ||||
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | Hourly | $30.27 | $31.80 | $31.80 | $31.80 | $31.82 | $31.60 | 90 | 0.58 | 39.01 |
| Annual | $62,960 | $66,140 | $66,140 | $66,140 | $66,190 | $65,720 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $25.13 | $55.85 | $58.61 | $59.93 | $59.95 | $54.76 | 90 | 0.03 | 2.26 |
| Annual | $52,280 | $116,160 | $121,900 | $124,650 | $124,700 | $113,900 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $28.04 | $36.01 | $43.21 | $52.61 | $58.53 | $44.42 | 80 | 0.44 | 29.46 |
| Annual | $58,330 | $74,900 | $89,880 | $109,430 | $121,730 | $92,380 | ||||
| Baton Rouge, LA | Hourly | $25.09 | $29.09 | $29.15 | $29.45 | $36.41 | $29.91 | 80 | 0.20 | 13.29 |
| Annual | $52,190 | $60,510 | $60,630 | $61,260 | $75,730 | $62,220 | ||||
Top industries employing pile driver operators
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employ 26.4% of pile driver operators nationally (610 jobs) at a median $64,370 a year ($30.95 an hour), followed by Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (21.2%) and Other Specialty Trade Contractors (11.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction NAICS 237900 | 610 | 26.4% | $64,370 | $30.95 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction NAICS 237300 | 490 | 21.2% | $92,980 | $44.70 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 270 | 11.7% | $79,350 | $38.15 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction NAICS 236200 | 240 | 10.4% | $66,140 | $31.80 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors NAICS 238100 | 220 | 9.5% | $102,030 | $49.05 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,310). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $76,260 for pile driver operators in May 2021 and $73,300 in May 2025, with employment of 3,760 and 2,310.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $76,260 | $36.66 | 3,760 |
| May 2022 | $64,310 | $30.92 | 3,290 |
| May 2023 | $63,550 | $30.55 | 3,010 |
| May 2024 | $70,510 | $33.90 | 3,040 |
| May 2025 | $73,300 | $35.24 | 2,310 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
11 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts profile | $58.16 | $120,980 | $87,100 | $124,700 | 130 | 0.04 | 2.38 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $53.40 | $111,080 | $99,180 | $140,630 | 50 | 0.02 | 1.00 |
| 3 | California profile | $53.05 | $110,340 | $71,630 | $135,780 | 480 | 0.03 | 1.76 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania profile | $44.98 | $93,550 | $80,380 | $102,030 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.99 |
| 5 | Alaska profile | $37.54 | $78,080 | $54,070 | $118,970 | 190 | 0.60 | 40.07 |
| 6 | Texas profile | $31.80 | $66,140 | $45,220 | $70,930 | 280 | 0.02 | 1.34 |
| 7 | Louisiana profile | $29.40 | $61,150 | $54,450 | $88,340 | 180 | 0.09 | 6.29 |
| 8 | Virginia profile | $28.81 | $59,910 | $50,770 | $75,920 | 150 | 0.04 | 2.48 |
| 9 | Tennessee profile | $26.36 | $54,830 | $44,070 | $67,860 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.70 |
| 10 | Florida profile | $24.92 | $51,830 | $46,060 | $81,590 | 270 | 0.03 | 1.86 |
| 11 | Georgia profile | $23.04 | $47,930 | $39,850 | $60,360 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.72 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-2070), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-2072 Pile Driver Operators.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-2072, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-2072.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.