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Salary comparison

Pile Driver Operators vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers out-earn Pile Driver Operators by $7K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Pile Driver Operators land at $73,300 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers at $79,920. The education gap is real: pile driver operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Pile Driver Operators is Massachusetts ($120,980); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers it's Washington ($109,570).

Pile Driver Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median salary
$73,300
$79,920
Hourly rate
$35.24/hr
$38.42/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,790
$53,280
Senior level (90th %)
$124,600
$128,260
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
2,310
812,210
Job growth (10-year)
4.3%
5.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Pile Driver Operators median pay.

State
Pile Driver Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Massachusetts
$120,980
$97,850
Washington
$111,080
$109,570
California
$110,340
$97,680
Pennsylvania
$93,550
$81,540
Alaska
$78,080
$102,140
Texas
$66,140
$74,520
Louisiana
$61,150
$75,360
Virginia
$59,910
$78,640
Tennessee
$54,830
$74,470
Florida
$51,830
$75,790
Georgia
$47,930
$78,430

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Pile Driver Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn more nationally. The median is $73,300 for Pile Driver Operators versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, a difference of $7K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Pile Driver Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 5.3% projected growth, compared to 4.3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Pile Driver Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

Pile Driver Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Pile Driver Operators get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Pile Driver Operators at $120,980/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Pile Driver Operators vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Pile Driver Operators earn $120,980 vs. $97,850 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Pile Driver Operators salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Pile Driver Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a pile driver operatorsGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersGuide →