How much do hydro excavators make?
William Burgess
Updated on March 17, 2026
How much do hydro excavators make?
The salaries of Hydro Excavation Operators in the US range from $35,150 to $97,410 , with a median salary of $71,940 . The middle 57% of Hydro Excavation Operators makes between $71,940 and $75,990, with the top 86% making $97,410.
How do I become a hydrovac operator?
Training and skill are the primary qualifications you need to become a Hydrovac operator. You must undergo a two-year vocational training program in vacuum excavation services. The role of an operator is an entry-level position in this line of work, so you do not need any experience.
What is hydro vac excavation?
Hydro excavation is a soil removing service. Instead of mechanical tools, the process uses pressurized water to create a dirt slurry. Hydrovac equipment can then vacuum the slurry to reveal deeper layers of the ground below.
How deep can you Hydro excavate?
70 feet deep
The process can be used to dig up to 70 feet deep in some cases and at really long distances from the holding tank or where the pumping truck is located. The excavation process can be used almost in any soil type, even in frozen ground.
How much do vac trucks make?
Hourly Wage for Vac Truck Driver Salary
| Percentile | Hourly Pay Rate | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile Vac Truck Driver Salary | $18 | US |
| 25th Percentile Vac Truck Driver Salary | $20 | US |
| 50th Percentile Vac Truck Driver Salary | $23 | US |
| 75th Percentile Vac Truck Driver Salary | $27 | US |
How much is a hydrovac truck?
Buying a hydro vac or straight vac truck for your company isn’t a small decision. With these trucks easily costing $100,000 – $500,000 or more for the more equipped trucks they are incredibly large investments for most contractors to make.
What do Hydrovac operators do?
The most important functions of a Hydrovac operator is to set up and dismantle the tool, fill the water tank, inspect the job site and operate the high pressure wand for excavation purposes. Also, they need to have a firm understanding of the company’s policies and know which documents are required at the job site.
What are the benefits of hydro excavation?
Benefits of Hydro Excavation
- Faster. Hydro excavation can be a cost effective solution to digging because of the amount of time and labor saved by using a more efficient method.
- Less Labor Intensive.
- Greater Precision.
- Safer, Less Riskier.
- Reduced Service Interruptions.
- Reduced Insurance Rates.
- Better for the environment.
What do Hydro Vac trucks do?
Hydrovac trucks are widely used in the hydro excavation process. It is used to excavate all types of materials such as clay, sand, ice, and gravel. Hydrovac trucks have two main components which empower the excavation process. Firstly, it uses high-pressure jets which loosen the material being excavated.
How much can a vac truck hold?
Commercial vacuum trucks which collect fecal sludge usually have a volume of 10–55 cubic metres (350–1,940 cu ft). However various smaller versions for specialized applications or low-resource settings can be found with tanks as small as 500 litres (110 imp gal; 130 US gal).
How do you Hydro excavate?
Hydro Excavation is the process of removing or moving soil with pressurized water. An air conveyance or vacuum is then used to transfer the soil or debris to a debris tank. This allows for a non-destructive and more accurate way to excavate soil and locate underground utilities.
What is a sewer vacuum truck?
Vacuum trucks, also known as vacuum tankers, are often used by cities to handle large-scale liquid and sludge clean up, most commonly in sewer and septic system maintenance. They can also be used in industrial and municipal settings to suction water and debris left from hydro-excavation or drilling jobs.
