Jobs Similar to Crane and Tower Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to crane and tower operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Pile Driver Operators and Continuous Mining Machine Operators.
Crane and Tower Operators: $68,080 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
81% similar · $57,430 (−16%) · High school
- 2Pile Driver Operators
81% similar · $73,300 (+8%) · High school
- 3Continuous Mining Machine Operators
80% similar · $61,810 (−9%) · High school
- 4Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
79% similar · $59,850 (−12%) · High school
- 5Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
79% similar · $60,190 (−12%) · High school
- 6Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
79% similar · $49,880 (−27%) · High school
- 7Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
78% similar · $70,070 (+3%) · High school
- 8Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
78% similar · $42,770 (−37%) · High school
- 9Locomotive Engineers
78% similar · $81,410 (+20%) · High school
- 10Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $52,800 (−22%) · High school
- 11Dredge Operators
78% similar · $49,640 (−27%) · High school · Same group
- 12Hoist and Winch Operators
78% similar · $56,450 (−17%) · High school · Same group
- 13Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
77% similar · $58,620 (−14%) · High school
- 14Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
77% similar · $46,960 (−31%) · High school
- 15Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
77% similar · $92,100 (broader group) · High school
- 16Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $46,330 (−32%) · High school
- 17Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
77% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 18Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
77% similar · $74,500 (+9%) · High school
- 19Wellhead Pumpers
77% similar · $69,960 (+3%) · High school · Same group
- 20Rock Splitters, Quarry
77% similar · $48,740 (−28%) · 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 crane and tower operators.
- Locomotive Engineers78% similar · $81,410 (+20%)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining77% similar · $74,500 (+9%)
- Pile Driver Operators81% similar · $73,300 (+8%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators78% similar · $70,070 (+3%)
- Wellhead Pumpers77% similar · $69,960 (+3%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining81% similar · High school
- Pile Driver Operators81% similar · High school
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators80% similar · High school
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators79% similar · High school
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas79% similar · High school
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners79% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for crane and tower operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where crane and tower operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (83)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators (82)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (82)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (81)
- Riggers (81)
- Pile Driver Operators (80)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (79)
- Logging Equipment Operators (78)
- Sailors and Marine Oilers (77)
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (76)
Questions about jobs like crane and tower operators
What jobs are most similar to crane and tower operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (81% similar), Pile Driver Operators (81% similar), Continuous Mining Machine Operators (80% similar), Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (79% similar) and Earth Drillers (79% similar).
Which jobs like crane and tower operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Locomotive Engineers ($81,410, +20%; usually a high school diploma), Loading and Moving Machine Operators ($74,500, +9%; usually a high school diploma) and Pile Driver Operators ($73,300, +8%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with crane and tower operators ($68,080). Without more preparation than crane and tower operators usually need: Locomotive Engineers, Loading and Moving Machine Operators and Pile Driver 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.