Pile Driver Operator Salary (2025)
Heavy Equipment · SOC Code 47-2072 · 4-year apprenticeship
National Salary Range
Pile Driver Operator salaries range from $61,303 to $94,668 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Pile Driver Operator Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $94,668 | $58,021 – $142,462 | $49,825 | D | 9,818 |
| Boston, MA | $89,432 | $57,548 – $135,443 | $58,837 | C | 8,677 |
| New York, NY | $85,010 | $51,743 – $122,013 | $45,460 | D | 8,247 |
| Chicago, IL | $84,099 | $51,678 – $123,039 | $78,597 | C | 3,333 |
| Seattle, WA | $83,489 | $50,324 – $128,244 | $56,033 | C | 5,079 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $82,100 | $50,318 – $117,598 | $71,391 | C | 4,784 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $80,582 | $52,296 – $119,875 | $48,543 | D | 7,449 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $79,045 | $49,699 – $122,634 | $74,571 | C | 3,228 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $77,322 | $50,294 – $110,746 | $74,348 | C | 4,848 |
| Portland, OR | $74,217 | $47,517 – $115,183 | $57,090 | C | 3,226 |
| Denver, CO | $73,833 | $46,545 – $109,497 | $57,682 | C | 4,559 |
| Atlanta, GA | $73,606 | $47,688 – $110,474 | $69,440 | C | 3,725 |
| Houston, TX | $72,438 | $43,555 – $104,227 | $75,456 | C | 2,848 |
| Detroit, MI | $72,359 | $45,908 – $105,027 | $81,302 | C | 3,869 |
| Nashville, TN | $71,168 | $42,491 – $109,873 | $69,095 | C | 4,391 |
| Columbus, OH | $71,134 | $42,681 – $107,508 | $76,488 | C | 3,264 |
| Miami, FL | $70,748 | $43,954 – $103,506 | $57,990 | C | 3,537 |
| Raleigh, NC | $70,555 | $44,458 – $103,780 | $70,555 | C | 2,143 |
| Charlotte, NC | $70,452 | $45,589 – $107,953 | $71,890 | C | 2,334 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $70,330 | $45,486 – $107,675 | $67,625 | C | 3,853 |
| Kansas City, MO | $68,939 | $43,368 – $98,083 | $73,339 | C | 3,620 |
| Dallas, TX | $68,263 | $41,966 – $105,573 | $66,925 | C | 4,049 |
| Tampa, FL | $68,165 | $40,902 – $105,292 | $67,490 | C | 5,167 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $68,127 | $41,425 – $104,120 | $74,051 | C | 3,884 |
| San Antonio, TX | $66,973 | $43,543 – $95,450 | $74,414 | C | 3,381 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $66,570 | $42,148 – $100,130 | $69,344 | C | 2,304 |
| New Orleans, LA | $66,325 | $39,531 – $93,490 | $69,816 | C | 2,509 |
| St. Louis, MO | $65,942 | $42,858 – $102,388 | $73,269 | C | 3,786 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $63,456 | $39,545 – $93,122 | $61,608 | C | 4,403 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $61,303 | $39,351 – $92,057 | $67,366 | C | 3,777 |
About Pile Driver Operator Pay
Pile Driver Operators earn a national median salary of $73,688 based on 2025 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is San Francisco at $94,668 median, while Indianapolis offers the lowest at $61,303.
Becoming a pile driver operator typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $58,021, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $142,462 or more. With 6% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Related Heavy Equipment Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for pile driver operators is $73,688 based on 2025 BLS data. Pay ranges from $61,303 to $94,668 depending on city, experience, and union status.
San Francisco offers the highest median pay for pile driver operators at $94,668. However, cost of living matters — the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of C and 6% wage growth over 5 years, pile driver operator offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 130,092 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a pile driver operator typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $58,021 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.