Jobs Similar to Continuous Mining Machine Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to continuous mining machine operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Roof Bolters, Loading and Moving Machine Operators and Earth Drillers.
Continuous Mining Machine Operators: $61,810 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Continuous Mining Machine Operators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roof Bolters, MiningSame group | 83% | $78,540+27% | High school |
| 2 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningSame group | 82% | $74,500+21% | High school |
| 3 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasSame group | 81% | $60,190−3% | High school |
| 4 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 80% | $61,290−1% | High school |
| 5 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 80% | $42,770−31% | High school |
| 6 | Crane and Tower Operators | 80% | $68,080+10% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 80% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 8 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 80% | $50,140−19% | High school |
| 9 | Logging Equipment Operators | 80% | $49,740−20% | High school |
| 10 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningSame group | 80% | $57,430−7% | High school |
| 11 | Helpers--Extraction WorkersSame group | 79% | $47,730−23% | High school |
| 12 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 79% | $78,620+27% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Maintenance Workers, Machinery | 79% | $60,850−2% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Pile Driver Operators | 79% | $73,300+19% | High school |
| 15 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 79% | $53,710−13% | High school |
| 16 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 79% | $70,070+13% | High school |
| 17 | Power Plant Operators | 79% | $102,040+65% | High school |
| 18 | Wellhead Pumpers | 79% | $69,960+13% | High school |
| 19 | Rail Car Repairers | 79% | $67,530+9% | High school |
| 20 | Fallers | 78% | $52,100−16% | High school |
- 1Roof Bolters, Mining
83% similar · $78,540 (+27%) · High school · Same group
- 2Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
82% similar · $74,500 (+21%) · High school · Same group
- 3Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
81% similar · $60,190 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 4Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
80% similar · $61,290 (−1%) · High school
- 5Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
80% similar · $42,770 (−31%) · High school
- 6Crane and Tower Operators
80% similar · $68,080 (+10%) · Training or associate
- 7Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
80% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 8Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $50,140 (−19%) · High school
- 9Logging Equipment Operators
80% similar · $49,740 (−20%) · High school
- 10Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
80% similar · $57,430 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 11Helpers--Extraction Workers
79% similar · $47,730 (−23%) · High school · Same group
- 12Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
79% similar · $78,620 (+27%) · Training or associate
- 13Maintenance Workers, Machinery
79% similar · $60,850 (−2%) · Training or associate
- 14Pile Driver Operators
79% similar · $73,300 (+19%) · High school
- 15Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
79% similar · $53,710 (−13%) · High school
- 16Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
79% similar · $70,070 (+13%) · High school
- 17Power Plant Operators
79% similar · $102,040 (+65%) · High school
- 18Wellhead Pumpers
79% similar · $69,960 (+13%) · High school
- 19Rail Car Repairers
79% similar · $67,530 (+9%) · High school
- 20Fallers
78% similar · $52,100 (−16%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than continuous mining machine operators.
- Power Plant Operators79% similar · $102,040 (+65%)
- Roof Bolters, Mining83% similar · $78,540 (+27%)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining82% similar · $74,500 (+21%)
- Pile Driver Operators79% similar · $73,300 (+19%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators79% similar · $70,070 (+13%)
- Wellhead Pumpers79% similar · $69,960 (+13%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for continuous mining machine operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where continuous mining machine operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Logging Equipment Operators (90)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (88)
- Dredge Operators (85)
- Crane and Tower Operators (84)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (82)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (81)
- Pile Driver Operators (80)
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons (80)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (80)
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (80)
Questions about jobs like continuous mining machine operators
What jobs are most similar to continuous mining machine operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Roof Bolters (83% similar), Loading and Moving Machine Operators (82% similar), Earth Drillers (81% similar), Refractory Materials Repairers (80% similar) and Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (80% similar).
Which jobs like continuous mining machine operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Power Plant Operators ($102,040, +65%; usually a high school diploma), Roof Bolters ($78,540, +27%; usually a high school diploma) and Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators ($78,620, +27%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with continuous mining machine operators ($61,810). Without more preparation than continuous mining machine operators usually need: Power Plant Operators, Roof Bolters and Loading and Moving Machine Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.