The salary earned in that profession is staggering everyone’s mind

HATAY (İHA) – Following the disaster of the century, excavator operators, who have become a popular profession in the excavation sector due to the increasing workload, are earning up to 50,000 TL monthly in Hatay.

After the debris removal works that started in 11 provinces following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, a shortage of qualified excavator operators emerged. The salaries of excavator operators, which exceed the country’s standards, had sparked curiosity among many. In the aftermath of the earthquake, a shortage of machine operators emerged in Hatay along with the debris removal process. In Hatay, where excavation works are nearing completion, operators are earning monthly salaries ranging from 40,000 TL to 50,000 TL.

‘We pay excavator operators between 40,000 and 45,000 TL’
Barış Yılmaz, a contractor from Trabzon, stated that they are continuing the debris removal operations in the earthquake zone, mentioning that they are facing challenging days as the temperature rises above 40 degrees. He said, ‘Since the first day of the earthquake, we have been actively demolishing here. It’s a bit tiring and difficult. The temperature is starting to affect the working conditions. Machines are not performing as efficiently due to the heat. Therefore, we occasionally stop the machines. We have enough machines, but we are having some difficulty in finding operators. Finding qualified operators is challenging. We pay excavator operators between 40,000 and 45,000 TL. Becoming an excavator operator is a popular profession among the youth. If a young person becomes a good operator, they can earn a good living from these jobs.’

‘Excavator operators do not earn between 80,000 and 100,000 TL as claimed’
Uğur Esen, who has been working as an excavator operator since 2006, stated that operators earn up to 50,000 TL, saying, ‘The hot weather conditions are challenging for us. When we see the people here, we do our best to help. I am here because I love my profession. When we see the hardships of the people here, our conscience drives us to be here. Excavator operators earn between 45,000 and 50,000 TL. They become valuable operators. We can sometimes give that person an extra 5 to 10 thousand TL. Excavator operators do not earn between 80,000 and 100,000 TL as claimed. I recommend young people to study first. If they are going to do these jobs, they need to start at a young age. This is a profession that can be done. Our country is an earthquake zone, so this sector will be a continuous job.’

‘We are doing our best to contribute to Hatay’
Foreman Alparslan Yaman, who stated that they have been working in Hatay for over a year, said, ‘We have been working enthusiastically since the day we arrived. We are here for service. The weather conditions, working conditions, and our accommodation are difficult, but we came here to serve. We will continue to provide service. We are doing our best to contribute to Hatay so that we can fulfill our duties without any accidents and return home.’