How Do I Find Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs in Washington State?

If you’re like many people, when you were younger, you dreamed of a career operating heavy equipment. What child doesn’t find cranes, backhoes, bulldozers, wrecking balls, and all the others cool? (We’re adults, and we certainly do.) But how can you turn this childhood passion into an adulthood career? How can you find real heavy equipment operator jobs in Washington State, or wherever you may live?

Finding heavy equipment operator jobs comes down to three criteria, which we’ll go over in this blog: education, training, and the actual job hunt.

1. Education for Heavy Equipment Operators

The good news for anyone seeking heavy equipment operator jobs in Washington State or elsewhere is that the vast majority of them don’t require an expensive higher education degree. In fact, most heavy equipment operator positions—that is, the ones in the cabin actually operating the equipment—only require a high school diploma or GED equivalent. This goes for both heavy equipment operators as well as repair technicians and foremen.

In general, the only position on a work site that you can expect to require education levels beyond a high school diploma or GED are the engineers, who typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. If you dream of becoming a civil or construction engineer, then higher education is in your future, but if you want to get behind the controls of an earthmover, you don’t need to pursue it.

2. Credentials for Heavy Equipment Operators

While higher education may be optional for the majority of heavy equipment operators, proper training certainly is not. After all, “heavy” is in the job description for a reason—these are powerful machines with the ability to cause tremendous damage to property and even people if used incorrectly. Therefore, training and appropriate credentials are a must for anyone looking to pursue heavy equipment operator jobs in Washington or anywhere else.

Depending on the specific career you’re interested in, the requirements may vary. Someone who wants to service the engines of a bulldozer and someone who wants to be in the bulldozer’s cabin will have very different requirements for their training and credentials before they’re ready to get on a jobsite. Your best bet is to look up the requirements for the state you live in, like Washington, and then find a credentialed training school that can get you the training and credentials you need for your dream job.

3. Finding a Job as a Heavy Equipment Operator

The truth is that there’s no one best, infallible way to find the position you want. Having the proper credentials will make your job hunt much easier because, if you lack them—or if you’re in the process of getting them—companies may not look twice at your resume. However, looking on job boards, especially industry-specific ones, can be a great place to start.

If you’re working with an expert training school, like West Coast Training, then talk to your school to see if they offer any employment services options. These placement programs can help you find an excellent heavy equipment operator job so you can pursue your childhood dream.

If you have further questions about finding heavy equipment operator jobs in Washington State, contact West Coast Training today.