Jobs Similar to Earth Drillers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to earth drillers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Pile Driver Operators, Continuous Mining Machine Operators and Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners.
Earth Drillers: $60,190 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. Earth Drillers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pile Driver Operators | 81% | $73,300+22% | High school |
| 2 | Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsSame group | 81% | $61,810+3% | High school |
| 3 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 81% | $49,880−17% | High school |
| 4 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningSame group | 81% | $57,430−5% | High school |
| 5 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 81% | $59,850−1% | High school |
| 6 | Roof Bolters, MiningSame group | 80% | $78,540+30% | High school |
| 7 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningSame group | 80% | $74,500+24% | High school |
| 8 | Helpers--Extraction WorkersSame group | 80% | $47,730−21% | High school |
| 9 | Logging Equipment Operators | 80% | $49,740−17% | High school |
| 10 | Tree Trimmers and Pruners | 80% | $50,960−15% | High school |
| 11 | Crane and Tower Operators | 79% | $68,080+13% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Commercial Divers | 78% | $72,990+21% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Derrick Operators, Oil and GasSame group | 78% | $58,620−3% | High school |
| 14 | Dredge Operators | 78% | $49,640−18% | High school |
| 15 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 78% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 16 | Agricultural Equipment Operators | 78% | $41,730−31% | High school |
| 17 | Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasSame group | 77% | $67,890+13% | High school |
| 18 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 77% | $61,290+2% | High school |
| 19 | Roustabouts, Oil and GasSame group | 77% | $46,960−22% | High school |
| 20 | Fallers | 77% | $52,100−13% | High school |
- 1Pile Driver Operators
81% similar · $73,300 (+22%) · High school
- 2Continuous Mining Machine Operators
81% similar · $61,810 (+3%) · High school · Same group
- 3Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
81% similar · $49,880 (−17%) · High school
- 4Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
81% similar · $57,430 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 5Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
81% similar · $59,850 (−1%) · High school
- 6Roof Bolters, Mining
80% similar · $78,540 (+30%) · High school · Same group
- 7Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
80% similar · $74,500 (+24%) · High school · Same group
- 8Helpers--Extraction Workers
80% similar · $47,730 (−21%) · High school · Same group
- 9Logging Equipment Operators
80% similar · $49,740 (−17%) · High school
- 10Tree Trimmers and Pruners
80% similar · $50,960 (−15%) · High school
- 11Crane and Tower Operators
79% similar · $68,080 (+13%) · Training or associate
- 12Commercial Divers
78% similar · $72,990 (+21%) · Training or associate
- 13Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
78% similar · $58,620 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 14Dredge Operators
78% similar · $49,640 (−18%) · High school
- 15Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
78% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 16Agricultural Equipment Operators
78% similar · $41,730 (−31%) · High school
- 17Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
77% similar · $67,890 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 18Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
77% similar · $61,290 (+2%) · High school
- 19Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
77% similar · $46,960 (−22%) · High school · Same group
- 20Fallers
77% similar · $52,100 (−13%) · 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 earth drillers.
- Roof Bolters, Mining80% similar · $78,540 (+30%)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining80% similar · $74,500 (+24%)
- Pile Driver Operators81% similar · $73,300 (+22%)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas77% similar · $67,890 (+13%)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators81% similar · $61,810 (+3%)
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons77% similar · $61,290 (+2%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for earth drillers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where earth drillers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Dredge Operators (85)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (85)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (85)
- Logging Equipment Operators (84)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (82)
- Fallers (81)
- Pile Driver Operators (81)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (80)
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners (80)
- Agricultural Equipment Operators (78)
Questions about jobs like earth drillers
What jobs are most similar to earth drillers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Pile Driver Operators (81% similar), Continuous Mining Machine Operators (81% similar), Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (81% similar), Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (81% similar) and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (81% similar).
Which jobs like earth drillers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Roof Bolters ($78,540, +30%; usually a high school diploma), Loading and Moving Machine Operators ($74,500, +24%; usually a high school diploma) and Pile Driver Operators ($73,300, +22%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with earth drillers ($60,190). Without more preparation than earth drillers usually need: Roof Bolters, 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.