Helpers--Extraction Workers build operations monitoring, operation and control 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 (83%).
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 | 83% | $59,850 | +25% | None |
| 2 | Helpers--Carpenters | 83% | $43,780 | −8% | None |
| 3 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 83% | $39,630 | −17% | None |
| 4 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 82% | $56,450 | +18% | None |
| 5 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 80% | $70,070 | +47% | None |
| 6 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 80% | $61,290 | +28% | None |
| 7 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 80% | $43,380 | −9% | None |
| 8 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 80% | $49,880 | +5% | None |
| 9 | Pile Driver Operators | 79% | $73,300 | +54% | None |
| 10 | Dredge Operators | 79% | $49,640 | +4% | None |
Compared with Helpers--Extraction Workers, median $47,730. 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 helpers--extraction workers (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.
83% skill match · $59,850 · +25% pay
Operations Analysis · Operation and Control · Time Management
83% skill match · $43,780 · −8% pay
Installation · Operations Analysis · Time Management
83% skill match · $39,630 · −17% pay
Installation · Operations Analysis · Programming
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 (83% skill match, median $59,850), Helpers--Carpenters (83% skill match, median $43,780) and Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (83% skill match, median $39,630), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 18 pay more than helpers--extraction workers at the median. The biggest increases: Pile Driver Operators (+54%, $73,300), Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (+47%, $70,070) and Wellhead Pumpers (+47%, $69,960).
25 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.