Also called: Loading Machine Operators, Mining
Loading and Moving Machine Operators build operation and control, operations monitoring and troubleshooting 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 Pile Driver Operators (84%).
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 | Pile Driver Operators | 84% | $73,300 | −2% | None |
| 2 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 80% | $70,070 | −6% | None |
| 3 | Crane and Tower Operators | 79% | $68,080 | −9% | Certificate or associate |
| 4 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 78% | $59,850 | −20% | None |
| 5 | Rail Car Repairers | 77% | $67,530 | −9% | None |
| 6 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 77% | $56,450 | −24% | None |
| 7 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 75% | $96,710 | +30% | None |
| 8 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | 75% | $58,870 | −21% | None |
| 9 | Wellhead Pumpers | 75% | $69,960 | −6% | None |
| 10 | Power Plant Operators | 74% | $102,040 | +37% | None |
Compared with Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining, median $74,500. 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 loading and moving 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.
84% skill match · $73,300 · −2% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Operations Monitoring · Operation and Control
80% skill match · $70,070 · −6% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Time Management · Technology Design
79% skill match · $68,080 · −9% pay
Judgment and Decision Making · Time Management · Systems Evaluation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Pile Driver Operators (84% skill match, median $73,300), Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (80% skill match, median $70,070) and Crane and Tower Operators (79% skill match, median $68,080), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 7 pay more than loading and moving machine operators at the median. The biggest increases: Power Plant Operators (+37%, $102,040), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+30%, $96,710) and Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (+28%, $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.