Remote Excavator Operator Jobs in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California is one of the most dynamic construction and infrastructure markets on the West Coast. Anchored by the Port of Long Beach — the second-busiest container port in the United States — the city is a hub of perpetual heavy civil, marine, and urban development activity. With billions of dollars in active infrastructure investment, the demand for skilled excavator operators in Long Beach has never been stronger. Increasingly, contractors and project managers are leveraging remote and teleremote excavation technology, allowing experienced operators to control excavators from a safe, enclosed cab or even a remote operations center. This intersection of traditional heavy equipment skill and emerging technology is reshaping the labor market here, creating well-compensated opportunities for operators who hold the right credentials and want to work in one of California’s most economically active metros.
Long Beach spans a wide urban footprint — from the Westside and Central neighborhoods through the harbor district, Signal Hill, Bixby Knolls, and into the boundary zones shared with Compton, Lakewood, and Carson. Each of these zones carries its own construction activity, from residential infill and mixed-use redevelopment to major port-adjacent industrial expansion. The city also shares infrastructure corridors with Los Angeles County, meaning operators based in Long Beach frequently pull work across the broader Southern California basin.
Current Job Demand for Excavator Operators in Long Beach
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The job market for excavator operators in Long Beach is robust and shows no signs of cooling. California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) consistently ranks Los Angeles County — which includes Long Beach — among the highest-demand regions for operating engineers and heavy equipment operators statewide. Several major projects are actively driving hiring right now:
- Port of Long Beach Terminal Improvements: The ongoing Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project and Terminal 4 expansions require extensive earthmoving, dredging support, and utility trenching. Contractors including AECOM and Kiewit have been actively staffing heavy equipment crews in this corridor.
- I-710 Freight Corridor Improvements: The 710 Freeway widening and modernization project through Long Beach and adjacent cities is a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar program generating sustained demand for excavators in utility relocation, drainage, and grading operations.
- Long Beach Civic Center and Downtown Development: Continued build-out around the new civic center campus and surrounding mixed-use towers has kept foundation and utility excavation crews busy in the downtown core.
- LA Metro Green Line Extensions and Transit Projects: Regional transit expansions connecting Long Beach to the broader Metro network require trench excavation for underground conduit, station footings, and stormwater systems.
- Ocean Boulevard Coastal Resilience Projects: Climate adaptation infrastructure along the coastline is generating new utility and earthmoving contracts that require specialized excavator work near sensitive environmental zones — a use case ideally suited to remote-operated equipment.
California’s Bureau of Labor Statistics data projects a 9–12% growth rate for heavy equipment operators in the Los Angeles metro over the next five years, outpacing the national average of 4%. For operators with remote operation certification and experience with GPS-guided or teleremote excavators, demand is even more concentrated and compensation premiums are measurable.
Pay Rates and Salary Ranges for Excavator Operators in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach follows Southern California’s competitive wage landscape, with union scale set by Operating Engineers Local 12 (OE Local 12), which represents heavy equipment operators throughout Southern California. Pay varies significantly by experience level, project type, and whether an operator carries remote or teleremote credentials.
- Entry-Level / Apprentice Operators (0–2 years): $32–$42 per hour. Annual equivalent of approximately $66,000–$87,000 depending on overtime. Apprentice wages are governed by the OE Local 12 apprenticeship schedule.
- Journey-Level Operators (3–7 years): $48–$62 per hour on union prevailing wage projects. Annual equivalent of $99,000–$129,000. This is the most common range for standard excavator work on public infrastructure jobs in Long Beach.
- Senior / Specialty Operators (8+ years): $62–$78 per hour for operators with GPS machine control, remote excavation, or marine work experience. Annual equivalent of $128,000–$162,000 on full-year schedules.
- Remote Excavator Specialists: Operators certified in teleremote or semi-autonomous excavation systems can command a 15–25% premium above standard journey-level rates. On large port or hazmat-adjacent projects, hourly rates of $75–$90 have been documented for remote operation specialists.
Prevailing wage requirements under California Labor Code and the federal Davis-Bacon Act apply to most public projects in Long Beach, ensuring that union-scale wages are the floor — not the ceiling — on government-funded work. Benefits packages through OE Local 12 add an additional $18–$24 per hour in health, pension, and vacation contributions, making total compensation packages among the strongest in the country for unionized operators.
For a deeper breakdown of how Long Beach compares regionally, see our guide to excavator operator salary ranges by state and metro.
Local Training and Certification Resources in Long Beach, CA
California does not issue a state-specific excavator operator license separate from federal OSHA guidelines, but the pathway to employment — particularly on prevailing wage and public projects — runs almost universally through the OE Local 12 apprenticeship program and NCCCO (National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators) affiliated testing bodies.
- Operating Engineers Local 12 Training Center (Parlier, CA): OE Local 12 operates a world-class training facility in Parlier, California, and maintains apprenticeship coordinators serving the Long Beach and Los Angeles area. The apprenticeship program is a 3-year curriculum combining 6,000 hours of on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Cost to applicants: minimal, as apprentices earn while they learn.
- NCCCO Mobile Crane and Excavator Certification: While NCCCO is most associated with crane certification, their affiliated testing network includes competency assessments for excavator operators working on regulated jobsites. Testing sites are available in the greater Los Angeles area. Exam fees range from $150–$350 depending on the credential.
- Long Beach City College (LBCC) — Construction Programs: LBCC offers construction technology coursework that can serve as foundational education for those entering the trades. While not a substitute for hands-on apprenticeship, these programs are accessible and affordable for local residents.
- OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 Construction: Mandatory on most commercial and public jobsites in California. OSHA 10 costs approximately $150–$250 online or in-person; OSHA 30 runs $250–$400. Both are available through multiple providers in the Long Beach area.
- Remote and Teleremote Excavation Certification: Manufacturer-specific training (Komatsu, Hitachi, Caterpillar) for remote-operated excavator systems is typically provided through authorized dealers or directly on large project sites. Operators interested in this specialty should seek out contractors working on port, mining, or hazmat remediation projects where this technology is most prevalent.
Explore our full resource guide on heavy equipment operator training programs near you to find additional options in Southern California.
Top Employers and Industries Hiring in Long Beach, CA
The employer landscape in Long Beach is diverse, spanning public agencies, major general contractors, specialty civil firms, and union signatory contractors. Key hiring entities include:
- Port of Long Beach Contractors: Kiewit Infrastructure, Shimmick Construction, Walsh Group, and PCL Civil are all active in the port expansion corridors and hire excavator operators regularly — both directly and through subcontractors.
- Caltrans and Metro Contractors: Public transportation and highway projects through Caltrans District 7 and LA Metro generate consistent demand for union operators. Firms like Granite Construction, Skanska USA, and Tutor Perini are frequent primes on these projects.
- Utility Contractors: Southern California Gas, Southern California Edison, and the Long Beach Water Department all contract excavation work for utility installation and replacement. Underground utility contractors like Michels Corporation and MYR Group are active in this market.
- Industrial and Port Logistics Development: The expansion of warehousing and last-mile logistics facilities near the port and along the 710 corridor has driven significant site preparation and grading demand, with firms like Swinerton Builders and McCarthy Building Companies active in this space.
- Environmental Remediation Firms: Given Long Beach’s history as a petroleum-producing city (the Signal Hill oil field was one of the most productive in U.S. history), environmental remediation contractors regularly need excavator operators for soil excavation near legacy contamination sites — a key use case for remote excavation technology.
Operators interested in remote-specific roles should also explore listings through Heovy’s operator matching platform, which surfaces project-specific demand across all major California markets.
Frequently Asked Questions: Excavator Operator Work in Long Beach, CA
Do I need a special license to operate an excavator in California?
California does not require a state-issued excavator operator license. However, operators must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Y for excavations and trenching, and many commercial and public projects require documented training, OSHA cards, and in some cases NCCCO or equivalent certification. Union membership through OE Local 12 effectively satisfies most employer credential requirements on prevailing wage work.
What is the difference between a remote excavator operator and a standard operator?
A remote excavator operator controls the machine from a position outside the cab — either from a nearby enclosed control station or, in advanced deployments, from a remote operations center entirely separate from the jobsite. This is valuable in hazardous environments such as unstable slopes, contaminated soil zones, underground work, and port dredging areas. Operators need familiarity with camera systems, joystick controls, and the specific manufacturer’s remote interface in addition to standard excavator operating skill.
Is Long Beach a union or open-shop market?
Long Beach is predominantly a union market for public and heavy civil work, governed by OE Local 12 for equipment operators. Private commercial and industrial work includes both union and open-shop contractors. Prevailing wage requirements on publicly funded projects effectively mandate union-scale wages regardless of union membership, making the financial case for joining the union strong for operators working this market regularly.
What are typical working hours and schedules for excavator operators in Long Beach?
Most heavy civil projects in Long Beach operate on 10-hour days, four days a week (4/10 schedule), though some projects — particularly port work — operate around the clock with rotating shifts. Overtime is common during peak project phases and is compensated at 1.5x the base rate after 8 hours in a day under California labor law, which is more protective than federal FLSA standards.
How does the cost of living in Long Beach affect take-home pay?
Long Beach is an expensive metro. Median rents for a one-bedroom apartment run $1,800–$2,400 per month as of 2024. However, the compensation levels available to journey-level and senior excavator operators — particularly those with prevailing wage and benefits — are among the highest in the country and are generally sufficient to support a comfortable lifestyle in the area, especially for operators with full union benefits offsetting healthcare costs.
Are there opportunities for out-of-state operators to work in Long Beach?
Yes, but California’s labor market has specific requirements. Out-of-state operators should verify their certifications are recognized by OE Local 12 and ensure their OSHA documentation is current. Travel card members from other IUOE locals can often work in California under reciprocal agreements. Remote excavation specialists with rare credentials are particularly sought after and may find employers willing to facilitate relocation or extended project assignments.
How to Get Started as a Remote Excavator Operator in Long Beach
The pathway to landing remote excavator operator work in Long Beach follows a clear sequence. First, establish your core operating credentials — either through the OE Local 12 apprenticeship, documented experience, or a combination of employer verification and certification testing. Second, pursue OSHA 10 or 30 certification if you don’t already hold it; this is non-negotiable on virtually every commercial jobsite in California. Third, if you want to specialize in remote operation, seek out projects or employers actively using teleremote or GPS-automated excavation systems and get manufacturer-specific training logged on your record.
Once your credentials are in order, your most efficient path to work is through a platform built specifically for the heavy equipment labor market. Create your free operator profile on Heovy to connect directly with contractors hiring for excavator roles in Long Beach and across Southern California. Heovy allows you to showcase your certifications, experience level, equipment hours, and availability — giving employers exactly what they need to make fast hiring decisions.
You can also explore our resources on Operating Engineers Local 12 membership and apprenticeship or review what heavy equipment operator jobs across California look like at different experience levels to calibrate your expectations and target the right opportunities.
Long Beach is a city built on movement — goods, infrastructure, people, and innovation. For excavator operators ready to work at the intersection of traditional skill and emerging technology, there may be no better place in the country to build a long-term career.
