Excavator Operators for hire in Knoxville, TN
Find excavator operators who can efficiently handle heavy machinery, excavate soil and rock and perform tasks like grading and demolition with precision and safety. Indeed Smart Sourcing matches you with quality talent in Knoxville, TN to make your hiring faster and simpler.
Ready to work now
932
candidates
Resume updated in last 6 months
Most popular skills
- Communication Skills
- 11%
- Leadership
- 8%
- Organizational Skills
- 8%
Education level
- High school diploma or GED
- 90%
- Bachelor's degree
- 5%
- Associate's degree
- 5%
Years of experience
- 6-10 years
- 40%
- More than 10 years
- 40%
- 1-2 years
- 10%
Current company
Vulcan Materials Company
Black & Veatch
MASTEC
Time at current job
- 2-5 years
- 60%
- Less than a year
- 20%
- 1-2 years
- 20%
Browse Indeed's database of 932 profiles for Excavator Operators in Knoxville, TN
Last updated: Nov 5, 2026
Excavator Operator: Cost of hiring?
- Common salary in Knoxville, TN: $63,604 yearly
- Typical salaries range from $48,024 – $84,239 yearly
- Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data (US)
Heavy Equipment Operator
Knoxville, Tennessee
Licenses & certifications
F EndorsementExcavationDriver's LicenseLoader OperationOSHA 10Excavator+12 moreSkills
Communication SkillsOrganizational SkillsTime ManagementHeavy LiftingMechanic ExperienceLeadershipEquipment Operator
Knoxville, Tennessee
Licenses & certifications
Class DConfined Space CertificationDriver's LicenseOSHA 10NATE CertificationLife & Health Insurance License+7 moreSkills
Organizational SkillsTime ManagementLeadershipCommunication SkillsConstruction InspectionHeavy LiftingHeavy Equipment Operator
Knoxville, Tennessee
Licenses & certifications
Class DDriver's LicenseServsafe CertificationSkills
Host/Hostess ExperienceCommunication SkillsTime ManagementHeavy LiftingLeadershipOrganizational SkillsHeavy Equipment Operator
Knoxville, Tennessee
Licenses & certifications
Class DOSHA 10Driver's LicenseForklift CertificationSkills
Communication SkillsTime ManagementService Technician ExperienceMechanic ExperienceOrganizational SkillsHeavy LiftingHeavy Equipment Operator
Knoxville, Tennessee
Licenses & certifications
CDL aConfined Space CertificationPlastic FusionMSHA CertificationDriver's LicenseWater Treatment+3 moreSkills
LeadershipAnalysis SkillsCommunication SkillsTime ManagementOrganizational SkillsVehicle SpottingGeneral Foreman
Powell, Tennessee
Licenses & certifications
ForkliftConfined Space CertificationMaterial Handling Equipment OperationAerial Lift CertificationScissor LiftExcavation+17 moreSkills
LeadershipTime ManagementAnalysis SkillsCommunication SkillsOrganizational SkillsAssistant Manager Experience
Simple, transparent pricing
Choose the plan that fits your hiring needs.
Professional
🔥 Best for most teamsIdeal for dedicated recruiters and high-volume hiring teams
Sourcing Assistant — uses automation to find and invite top matches- Assign up to 3 jobs at once to your Assistant
- It works daily, even when you’re offline
- Automatically sends personalized outreach messages
- Includes Assistant contacts to kickstart sourcing **
100 contacts per month- Advanced candidate filters + Glassdoor profiles
- Get access to candidate engagement insights
- Improve team collaboration with shared candidate lists
Enterprise
📈 High volumeFor large organizations requiring max scale and custom solutions
Recommended for teams hiring at large scale
- Sourcing Assistant — uses automation to find and invite top matches
- Assign unlimited jobs at once to your Assistant
- It works daily, even when you’re offline
- Automatically sends personalized outreach messages
- Includes Assistant contacts to kickstart sourcing **
- Custom contacts per month / year
- Configurable usage limits
- Custom pricing and invoicing
- Volume-based contact packages
- Dedicated onboarding and account support
- Enterprise-grade identity and access management
§Terms and conditions apply
*Plus taxes and fees as applicable. Pricing and offerings will vary by market and are subject to change
**Assistant contacts are applied in your first month
Not looking for sourcing candidates?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Indeed Smart Sourcing?
Smart Sourcing is a tool that can help you find the right candidates for your open roles and reach out to them directly. Search resumes, and get a list of candidates whose qualifications, requirements and preferences match the job criteria you're looking for.
Are there additional products that can help me find candidates on Indeed?
Yes, you can create a free Indeed employer account and post a job or reach more skilled talent by sponsoring a job and expanding your reach.
What's the average time to fill an excavator operator role?
The average time to fill an excavator operator role is 102 days, calculated from the moment the job is posted until a candidate accepts the offer.
What skills do excavator operators tend to have?
According to the candidates available on Smart Sourcing, the most common skills for an excavator operator include: communication skills, leadership and organizational skills.
What licenses or certifications are common for excavator operators?
Common licenses or certifications for excavator operators include: Driver's License, OSHA 10 and Confined Space Certification.
What are some job titles related to excavator operators?
According to Indeed's Smart Sourcing data, job titles related to excavator operators include: heavy equipment operator, heavy equipment operator/foreman and pipe layer/operator.
What level of education is common for an excavator operator?
High school diploma or GED is the most common level of education for an excavator operator in Knoxville, TN, according to available candidates on Smart Sourcing.
How many years of experience is common for an excavator operator?
Most excavator operators have 11 years of professional experience.
Indeed is used by more than 3.3 million companies globally
Smart Sourcing is incredibly intuitive. Instead of wading through hundreds of unqualified applications, we were able to filter down to top-tier talent in just a few clicks. It’s an essential tool for our HR team.
Marcus Chen, VP of People at Horizon Media
Instantly match and connect with quality candidates today
*Terms and conditions apply