Will “Ditch Digger” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

88% Chance of Automation

“Ditch Digger” will probably be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #512 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-2061.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 37,890.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 18.00
Currently, there are 912,100 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Construction Laborers”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Ditch Digger”

Identify, pack, or transport hazardous or radioactive materials.
Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
Perform site activities required of green certified construction practices, such as implementing waste management procedures, identifying materials for reuse, or installing erosion or sedimentation control mechanisms.
Transport or set explosives for tunnel, shaft, or road construction.
Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
Raze buildings or salvage useful materials.
Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.
Grind, scrape, sand, or polish surfaces, such as concrete, marble, terrazzo, or wood flooring, using abrasive tools or machines.
Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.
Use computers or other input devices to control robotic pipe cutters or cleaners.
Perform building weatherization tasks, such as repairing windows, adding insulation, or applying weather-stripping materials.
Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
Apply caulking compounds by hand or caulking guns to protect against entry of water or air.
Perform construction laborer duties at green building sites, such as renewable energy plants or wind turbine installations.
Apply weather-stripping to reduce energy loss.
Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
Tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster, or stucco through spray guns for application to ceilings or walls.
Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.

Related Technology & Tools

Mud jacks
Fall arrest systems
Floor saws
Tampers
Ride-on vacuum cleaners
Asphalt kettles
Welding hoods
Asphalt mops
Chipping guns
Paddle mixers
Pressure washers
Masonry forklifts
Bandsaws
Respirators
Paint sprayers
Hand grinders
Kerosene burners
Gin poles
Power screwdrivers
Smudge pots
Laser guidance equipment for pipe placement
Road rollers
Cutout saws
Adjustable wrenches
Stucco spray guns
Dump trucks
Caulking guns
Impact wrenches
Drill presses
Pedestal grinders
Mowing equipment
Trenchers
Fencing pliers
Transit levels
Steam cleaning equipment
Disc grinders
Scarifiers
Plasma cutters
Brick hammers
Hammer drills
Hoists
Crowbars
Laser screeds
Floats
Rough terrain forklifts
Saws
Calipers
Generators
Robotic pipe cleaners
Hole cutters
Sewer rodding machines
Shovels
Laser levels
Forklifts
Floor sanders
Bench grinders
Stump cutters
Cold chisels
Shielded arc welding tools
Measuring wheels
Water samplers
Axes
Dynamite blasters
Winches
Tuck pointers
Coring machines
Pavement breakers
Power sanders
Cutoff saws
Belt conveyors
Swing stages
Mortar hoes
Punches
Chip spreaders
Screeds
Weed sprayers
Motor graders
Saber saws
Hydraulic track-guided wall saws
Electric drills
Reciprocating saws
Earth tampers
Spades
Bale hooks
Asphalt saws
Ladders
Tape measures
Torches
Power buggies
Micrometers
Water spraying equipment
Mortar mixers
Robotic pipe cutters
Theodolites
Slings
Plumb bobs
Pneumatic staplers
Gas leak detection devices
Concrete pumpers
Bosun chairs
Scissor lifts
Smoke testers
Hydraulic speed shoring equipment
Chain saws
Adjustable widemouth pliers
Loaders
Sidewalk sweepers
Tripods
Manlifts
Hydraulic rock drills
Oxygen/acetylene torches
Snowplows
Two way radios
Sandblasters
Brick tongs
Liquid propane torches
Concrete saws
Screwdrivers
Steam jennies
Air monitoring equipment
Air drills
Trowels
Demolition saws
Sewer cleaner vactors
Water levels
Rotary hammers
Hydraulic chainsaws
Water tank trucks
Post hole augers
Air compressors
Electric boring machines
Wagon drills
Rakes
Levels
Carpenters' levels
Brick carrier forks
Hydraulic boring machines
Guniting machines
Tappers
Salamanders
Circular saws
Laser measuring devices
Plaster mixers
Hand trucks
Temperature probes
Oil distributors
Jet trucks for cleaning sewer lines
Wire stretchers
Forks
Pneumatic drills
Concrete mixers
Nail guns
Spirit levels
Swing chairs
Vibratory plate compactors
Suction sweepers
Crawler shovels
Carpenters' squares
Jig saws
Power drills
Protective suits
Hammers
Picks
Jackhammers
Walk-behind compacting equipment
Scaffolding
Pickup trucks
Remote pipe cameras
Cable pullers
Skid steer loaders
Hydraulic booms
Impact hammers
Mattocks
Walk-behind saws
Surveying rods

Microsoft Windows
Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Autodesk Revit