Construction Plant Operator

Typical Salary

£14,000 To £35,000

Typical Hours

48 to 50 a week

evenings / weekends away from home

How To Become a Construction Plant Operator

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship
working your way into the role
applying directly

College / University

You could do a college course in a subject like:

Level 2 Certificate in Construction Plant Operations
Level 3 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through a construction plant operator or lifting technician intermediate apprenticeship.

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could find work as a general construction labourer to get some on-site experience. Once you're working, your employer may offer you training in plant operation.

It may be possible to apply directly to employers if you've got experience in construction, or of operating other types of heavy machinery.

Some employers may ask for GCSEs in subjects like English, maths, and design and technology.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
knowledge of building and construction
the ability to operate and control equipment
the ability to work well with others
the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
sensitivity and understanding
the ability to work on your own
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

In your day-to-day tasks you could:

use 180 and 360 degree excavators
move earth with bulldozers and dump trucks
load shovels
operate a crane where you'll work with a slinger signaller who'll attach the loads and direct you by signals or radio
level out work areas with compactors
use piling rigs and concrete pumps
use forklifts to unload and move materials around the site
carry out safety checks on the machines you're using, change buckets and other attachments

Working Environment

You could work on a construction site.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, noisy, at height and dirty.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could move into construction management, site supervision, estimating, lift planning and supervision.

You could become a plant or crane supervisor, or a plant coordinator selecting the machinery needed for each new job and assessing new equipment.

You could also move into selling plant equipment.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll need a Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card to operate some machinery

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a construction plant operator from Go Construct and the Construction Plant-hire Association.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.