Takeover Tracker

23%low risk

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators

Operate or tend machinery equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets, to excavate and load loose materials.

Higher risk than 13% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 23/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 13% of all analyzed occupations. Of 16 analyzed tasks, 3 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Limited protective factors mean this occupation has few buffers against AI automation.

This is a general assessment. to get a score adjusted for your experience, skills, and work environment.

How AI Impacts Each Task

16 tasks analyzed

Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.

Risk: 17.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 25%

Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.

Risk: 45.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 5%

Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and with efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.

Risk: 84.0%AI: 87EstimatedTime: 5%

Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.

Risk: 19.0%AI: 25EstimatedTime: 10%

Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.

Risk: 17.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 15%

Skill Impact Analysis

6

AI-Vulnerable

11

AI-Resistant

AI-Vulnerable

Reading Comprehension10%

Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Information Ordering5%

Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant

Manual Dexterity80%

Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

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Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-6.5pt risk

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Pluralsightbeginner

Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path

by Pluralsight

30 hours$29/mo4.5Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Monitoring

Estimated Impact

-4.9pt risk

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.5pt risk

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Score History

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See how Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators's risk score has changed over 2 scoring runs.

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Education & Training

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Education levels, experience requirements, and training data for this occupation.

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Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis