Scraper operator
Also known as: scraper driver, scraper worker, heavy plant operator, scraper, towed-scraper operator, plant operator, scraper, scraper operative
About this occupation
Scraper operators work with a mobile piece of heavy equipment that scrapes the top layer of the ground and deposits it in a hopper to be hauled off. They drive the scraper over the surface to be scraped, adapting the speed of the machine to the hardness of the surface.
Essential skills and knowledge
- work in a construction team
- mechanical systems
- keep heavy construction equipment in good condition
- operate construction scraper
- dig soil mechanically
- operate GPS systems
- inspect construction sites
- recognise the hazards of dangerous goods
- work ergonomically
- follow health and safety procedures in construction
- drive mobile heavy construction equipment
- use safety equipment in construction
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (O*NET 47-2071.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
- Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
- Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
- Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
- Coordinate truck dumping.
- Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.
- Typical education (US)
- Less than a High School Diploma
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Troubleshooting
US median pay: US$53,340 a year (2025), 41,820 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- WoodworkO*NET: Building and ConstructionVery important (3.6)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Less than a High School Diploma
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Construction Laborers
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Segmental Pavers
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
- Pile Driver Operators
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
- Pipelayers
- Hoist and Winch Operators
- Highway Maintenance Workers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.