Derrick Operators build operations monitoring, operation and control and repairing 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 Wellhead Pumpers (86%).
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 | Wellhead Pumpers | 86% | $69,960 | +19% | None |
| 2 | Pile Driver Operators | 85% | $73,300 | +25% | None |
| 3 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 84% | $56,450 | −4% | None |
| 4 | Dredge Operators | 83% | $49,640 | −15% | None |
| 5 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 83% | $59,850 | +2% | None |
| 6 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 81% | $53,340 | −9% | None |
| 7 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 77% | $61,290 | +5% | None |
| 8 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 77% | $70,070 | +20% | None |
| 9 | Riggers | 77% | $62,640 | +7% | None |
| 10 | Crane and Tower Operators | 76% | $68,080 | +16% | Certificate or associate |
Compared with Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas, median $58,620. 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 derrick 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.
86% skill match · $69,960 · +19% pay
Technology Design · Programming
85% skill match · $73,300 · +25% pay
Technology Design
84% skill match · $56,450 · −4% pay
Time Management · Operations Analysis · Service Orientation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Wellhead Pumpers (86% skill match, median $69,960), Pile Driver Operators (85% skill match, median $73,300) and Hoist and Winch Operators (84% skill match, median $56,450), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 14 pay more than derrick operators at the median. The biggest increases: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+65%, $96,710), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (+63%, $95,320) and Locomotive Engineers (+39%, $81,410).
24 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.