What Is a Pile Driver?
The name says it all. Professional pile drivers expertly and efficiently maneuver huge construction machinery to drive metal, concrete or wood piling into the earth during the early stages of construction. If you like working outside with large equipment, heavy materials and sometimes under extreme weather conditions then you' ll like the hearty occupation of the pile driver!
What Types of Jobs Are Completed by Pile Drivers?
Pile drivers install piling to hold back the Earth during excavations, or to set up the foundation of skyscrapers and bridges, or to build docks and wharfs. Due to the wide range of work performed in this field, many are certified welders and capable of working with a variety of sizes and shapes of steel. Some pile drivers are commercial divers, doing the underwater construction required by the pile driving industry.
What Are the Hours and Working Conditions of Pile Drivers?
Pile drivers usually work eight-hour days, and are typically the first workers at the construction site. Sometimes, projects like bridges, highways and overpasses require pile drivers to work nights and weekends, and to travel long distances. When that happens, pile drivers are compensated with shift pay and travel allowances. Hard hats, gloves, eye protection and steel-toed boots are worn for protection and safety measures. Pile drivers work with a variety of hand and portable power tools, and frequently cut, join and fasten metal construction materials using welding equipment and oxy-acetylene torches. Apprentices usually start out helping journeymen with the basic tasks like material handling, and move into more sophisticated jobs as their knowledge and skills increase.
How Do I Become a Pile Driver?
It's great to be in this industry, but to get there, you have to work hard. Your training will be done by local experts through an "apprenticeship" program. To make sure your training is the best in the country, a group of experienced contractors and union representatives make sure you get the right instruction and earn a good wage at the same time. To start, call your local carpenters union office to get more information. Ask them how to become an "Apprentice" in the pile driver program.
Does My High School Coursework Matter?
If you are still in school, you should take classes in mathematics, drafting or mechanical drawing, metal or industrial shop, or any construction courses which familiarize you with construction technology. These classes will help you develop the dexterity and practical thinking skills you will need as a piledriver apprentice.
What Is an Apprentice?
Apprentices earn a good income and learn a trade, all at once. Apprentices study both in the classroom and on-the-job under the guidance of skilled UBC members of that trade, called journeymen. From the first day of your apprenticeship, you are paid a wage and start to earn benefits. You also get raises for doing a good job, usually every six months, until you reach the full journeyman scale at the end of the apprenticeship. In most cases the length of your apprenticeship is four years, and your training Is free.
What Makes This Opportunity So Special?
The rewards of apprenticeship training are the good wages and benefits you receive as a skilled craftsperson. Union pile drivers belong to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and benefit from the security of being professional tradesmen. You will be working for a union contractor under the protection of a union contract, which means that you will probably have some form of health insurance and pension and welfare benefits. It pays to be the best you can be: an apprentice-trained professional pile driver.
Professional pile drivers are members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, a proud organization with more than 500,000 members.
