Also called: Operating Engineers
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment 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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (93%).
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 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 93% | $57,430 | −4% | None |
| 2 | Continuous Mining Machine Operators | 88% | $61,810 | +3% | None |
| 3 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | 85% | $60,190 | +1% | None |
| 4 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 84% | $56,450 | −6% | None |
| 5 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 83% | $70,070 | +17% | None |
| 6 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | 81% | $74,500 | +24% | None |
| 7 | Crane and Tower Operators | 81% | $68,080 | +14% | Certificate or associate |
| 8 | Riggers | 80% | $62,640 | +5% | None |
| 9 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | 79% | $65,510 | +9% | Certificate or associate |
| 10 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 79% | $46,420 | −22% | None |
Compared with Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, median $59,850. 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 operating engineers and other construction equipment 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.
93% skill match · $57,430 · −4% pay
Management of Personnel Resources · Persuasion · Equipment Selection
88% skill match · $61,810 · +3% pay
Operations Monitoring · Management of Personnel Resources · Installation
85% skill match · $60,190 · +1% pay
Operations Monitoring · Equipment Selection · Installation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (93% skill match, median $57,430), Continuous Mining Machine Operators (88% skill match, median $61,810) and Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (85% skill match, median $60,190), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 13 pay more than operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at the median. The biggest increases: Locomotive Engineers (+36%, $81,410), Roof Bolters, Mining (+31%, $78,540) and Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (+24%, $74,500).
23 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.