Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs in Great Lakes, IL

A Heavy Equipment Operator in the landscaping industry operates large machinery used in the construction and maintenance of landscapes. Their duties may include grading terrain, hauling materials, digging holes for planting, and other tasks where heavy machinery is needed. The operator is responsible for the safe and efficient use of equipment, typically including bulldozers, excavators, loaders, and backhoes. They also perform routine inspections and maintenance on the machinery, ensuring it is in good working condition.

Important skills for a Heavy Equipment Operator include mechanical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in diverse weather conditions. A high school diploma is usually required, along with a commercial driver's license (CDL) and a certification in heavy equipment operations. This certification can be obtained through trade schools or community colleges. Before becoming a Heavy Equipment Operator, a person may have roles such as a Laborer or a Landscape Worker, which provide relevant experiences like operating smaller machinery, understanding of landscape designs and plans, and familiarity with the industry's safety requirements.

1-15 of 33 Jobs

Forklift Operator - Part-Time - Day Shift

  • Des Plaines, IL (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 8 hours ago
  • Des Plaines, IL (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 8 hours ago

What youll need to succeed as a Forklift Operator at XPO Minimum qualifications: Be at least 18 years of age Able to do basic math calculations, with and without a calculator Available to work a...

Forklift Operator

  • Elk Grove Village, IL (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 3 days ago
  • Elk Grove Village, IL (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 3 days ago

Now Hiring Sit-Down Forklift Operators (1st Shift) Location: Elk Grove Village, IL (Allan Drive) Pay: $18.50/hour Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-3:30 PM or 7:30 AM-4:00 PM Type: Temp-to-Hire...

Forklift Operator

  • Pleasant Prairie, WI (15 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 3 days ago
  • Pleasant Prairie, WI (15 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 3 days ago

General Information Job ID ATR52845 Posting Job Title Forklift Operator Locations WI Pleasant Prairie Employment Type Full Time Date Posted 27-Jun-2025 Relocation Support No Description &...

Forklift Operator

  • Wauconda, IL (14 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 4 days ago
  • Wauconda, IL (14 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 4 days ago

Client in Vernon Hills is looking for Reach Truck/ Cherry Picker forklift Drivers Current Openings ( pay is based off Experience) Forklift Operator Shift: 1st shift | 5 AM - 1:30pm | MonFri |...

Standup Forklift Operator

  • Pleasant Prairie, WI (15 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago
  • Pleasant Prairie, WI (15 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago

Position Description Ryder is immediately hiring a Permanent Full Time Stand Up Forklift Operator in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin Warehouse Positions Pay Weekly Hourly Pay $19.25 per hour $0.75 pay...

Forklift Operator

  • Wilmot, WI (22 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago
  • Wilmot, WI (22 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago

Forklift Operator Pay from $25 to $32 per hour with significant growth and earning potential! Kenosha Branch 12355 Uline Way, Kenosha, WI 53144 Go-getters wanted! Looking to join a top-tier team?...

Forklift Operator Level 1 - East 2nd Shift

  • Pleasant Prairie, WI (15 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago
  • Pleasant Prairie, WI (15 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago

Forklift Operator FLSA Status Non-Exempt Department Shipping & Receiving Reports to Title Shipping and Receiving Supervisor Position Summary The Forklift Operator will operate an industrial...

Forklift Operator - Sit Down - Now Hiring

  • Elk Grove Village, IL (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago
  • Elk Grove Village, IL (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago

Ready to explore new job opportunities as a sit down forklift operator? Do you have a strong safety record? A can-do mentality? A history of near-flawless attendance? If all these ring true, there...

Warehouse Forklift Operator

  • Kenosha, WI (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago
  • Kenosha, WI (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago

Ryder is immediately hiring a Permanent Full Time Stand Up Forklift Operator in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin Warehouse Positions Pay Weekly Hourly Pay $19.25 per hour Additional Pay: $0.75 per hour...

Forklift Operator Warehouse

  • Kenosha, WI (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago
  • Kenosha, WI (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 5 days ago

Ryder is immediately hiring a Permanent Full Time Material Handler in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin Warehouse Positions Pay Weekly Hourly Pay $19.25 per hour Overtime Pay $28.87 per hour Additional...

Asphalt Paver Operator And Laborers

  • Wauconda, IL (14 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 6 days ago
  • Wauconda, IL (14 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 6 days ago

Asphalt paving company now hiring paver and machine operators and laborers to start tomorrow. WANTED!! Paver, roller and skid steer operators, tampman,luteman and shovelers. $18. to $50. Per hour...

VNA Forklift Operator - 3rd Shift - 2025-18647-3379

  • Crystal Lake, IL (23 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 8 days ago
  • Crystal Lake, IL (23 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 8 days ago

This job was posted by : For more information, please see: **Overview** Are you looking to start your career with a great company? Do you enjoy driving a forklift in a warehouse environment? A...

Forklift Operator

  • Elk Grove Village, IL (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 10 days ago
  • Elk Grove Village, IL (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 10 days ago

Key Responsibilities: Load, unload, and move materials within the warehouse using forklifts, pallet jacks, or by hand. Stage and organize materials for production and shipping. Accurately receive,...

Forklift Operator - Part-Time

  • Kenosha, WI (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 10 days ago
  • Kenosha, WI (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 10 days ago

What you'll need to succeed as a Forklift Operator at XPO Minimum qualifications: Be at least 18 years of age Able to do basic math calculations, with and without a calculator Available to work a...

Forklift Operator, I 2nd Shift M-F 3:45pm-12:15am

  • Kenosha, WI (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 12 days ago
  • Kenosha, WI (21 miles from Great Lakes, IL)
  • 12 days ago

Remote Work: No Overview: At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working to make everyday life better. United by curiosity and care, we develop dynamic...

Heavy Equipment Operator Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireLandscaping curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Heavy Equipment Operator Certification
Heavy Equipment Operator Course: Excavator & Skid Steer CertificationOur comprehensive Heavy Equipment Operator Course offers online training and expert instruction on two essential pieces of...
Construction: Heavy Equipment Awareness
Working with or around heavy equipment is unavoidable on most construction sites. That's why it's important that you have an awareness of what's happening around you at all times, so you can react...
Heavy Metal 101
This is not a metallurgy class! Learn everything you ever wanted to know about heavy metal music. Topics of this video lecture series include musicology, history, metal culture, music theory,...

Salary for Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs in Great Lakes, IL

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireLandscaping research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Heavy Equipment Operator positions.



Highest Education Level

Heavy Equipment Operators in Great Lakes, IL offer the following education background
High School or GED
36.8%
Bachelor's Degree
24.0%
Vocational Degree or Certification
16.4%
Associate's Degree
13.3%
Some High School
3.3%
Some College
3.1%
Master's Degree
2.6%
Doctorate Degree
0.5%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Heavy Equipment Operators in Great Lakes, IL
2-4 years
36.6%
Less than 1 year
26.8%
1-2 years
19.9%
4-6 years
16.3%
None
0.4%


Other Career Titles

Here are some other career titles that require similar skills