Operator median pay
$73,300 a year
How you learn
Paid apprenticeship
Where you work
Bridges, docks, foundations
The upside
Union career and pension
Pile driving builds the deep foundations under bridges, docks, piers, tunnels and high-rises. When the ground near the surface can’t carry a structure’s weight, pile drivers install long steel, concrete or timber piles down to stronger soil or rock.
From the dean’s desk
Not many people want to get into pile driving. It’s not a very glamorous career, but it’s union, and you can have a successful career and a pension.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
That’s the opportunity. Fewer people are lining up for this trade than for electrical or welding, and the people who stick with it can build a long, well-paid career.
What pile drivers do
- Set up and run diesel, hydraulic and vibratory hammers
- Weld, cut and install steel piles, plates and sheet piling
- Rig loads and move material on land or from a barge
- Form and pour concrete for bridges, docks and wharves
- Read plans and check that each pile meets the design
The work is outdoors in every kind of weather, physical, and done as a crew. Some pile drivers go on to commercial diving and underwater construction, which takes more training and a dive medical clearance.
How the machines work
Impact hammers (diesel or hydraulic) drive a pile with repeated blows. Vibratory hammers use counter-rotating weights to shake the pile into the soil, usually with less noise and headroom.
Pay and job outlook
Pile driver operators, the workers who run the driving rigs, earned a national median of $73,300 in May 2025, the highest of the construction equipment operator jobs tracked by BLS. It’s a small specialty, with about 2,300 operator jobs nationwide, so openings are tied to local bridge, port and foundation work.
Local pay can run well above that. In Washington, pile driver operators earned a median of $111,080.
| Area | Median pay (May 2025) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro (OR–WA) | $111,070 | $53.40 |
| Washington | $111,080 | $53.40 |
| United States | $73,300 | $35.24 |
Source: O*NET OnLine, BLS OEWS May 2025.
BLS also notes that pile driver operators have one of the highest injury rates of any occupation, so safety training and a crew that follows procedures matter.
How to become a pile driver
1
Find out who runs training in your area
In many regions, piledrivers are part of the carpenters union, and apprenticeships run through a local carpenters or piledrivers training center. Call them and ask when applications open.
2
Get ready before the window opens
Earn your OSHA-10, brush up on trade math and blueprint basics, and get comfortable with hand tools, rigging and lifting.
3
Consider a pre-apprenticeship or welding class
A pre-apprenticeship or a technical college welding course can make your application stand out.
4
Complete your apprenticeship
Apprentices work paid hours on job sites and take classes in safety, rigging, cutting and pile driving methods, with raises as they progress.
Is pile driving right for you?
- You like working outside and don’t mind weather
- You want to build things that last for generations
- You’re comfortable with heights, water and heavy equipment
- You value a union wage, benefits and a pension over a glamorous title
Frequently asked questions
How much do pile drivers make?
Pile driver operators earned a national median of $73,300 in May 2025. Apprentice wages start lower and rise as you progress.
Is pile driving a union job?
Often, yes. In many regions piledrivers are part of the carpenters union and train through union apprenticeships.
Is pile driving dangerous?
It can be. BLS reports pile driver operators have one of the highest injury rates of any occupation, which is why safety training is a big part of the apprenticeship.
Sources
Related: All construction guides · How to Pay for Trade School
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