Continuous Mining Machine Operators build operation and control, operations monitoring and equipment maintenance skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (88%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 88% | $59,850 | −3% | None |
| 2 | Pile Driver Operators | 83% | $73,300 | +19% | None |
| 3 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 83% | $70,070 | +13% | None |
| 4 | Crane and Tower Operators | 82% | $68,080 | +10% | Certificate or associate |
| 5 | Maintenance Workers, Machinery | 81% | $60,850 | −2% | Certificate or associate |
| 6 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 81% | $56,450 | −9% | None |
| 7 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 80% | $61,290 | −1% | None |
| 8 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 79% | $64,520 | +4% | Certificate or associate |
| 9 | Power Plant Operators | 79% | $102,040 | +65% | None |
| 10 | Wellhead Pumpers | 79% | $69,960 | +13% | None |
Compared with Continuous Mining Machine Operators, median $61,810. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as continuous mining machine operators (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
88% skill match · $59,850 · −3% pay
Management of Material Resources · Management of Financial Resources
83% skill match · $73,300 · +19% pay
Management of Material Resources · Coordination
83% skill match · $70,070 · +13% pay
Management of Material Resources · Management of Financial Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (88% skill match, median $59,850), Pile Driver Operators (83% skill match, median $73,300) and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (83% skill match, median $70,070), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 13 pay more than continuous mining machine operators at the median. The biggest increases: Power Plant Operators (+65%, $102,040), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+56%, $96,710) and Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (+54%, $95,320).
21 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.