Jobs Similar to Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
Also called: Excavating Machine Operators, Surface Mining
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Pile Driver Operators, Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Crane and Tower Operators.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators: $57,430 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. Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pile Driver Operators | 83% | $73,300+28% | High school |
| 2 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 83% | $59,850+4% | High school |
| 3 | Crane and Tower Operators | 81% | $68,080+19% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 81% | $61,290+7% | High school |
| 5 | Dredge Operators | 81% | $49,640−14% | High school |
| 6 | Derrick Operators, Oil and GasSame group | 81% | $58,620+2% | High school |
| 7 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasSame group | 81% | $60,190+5% | High school |
| 8 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 81% | $53,340−7% | High school |
| 9 | Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters | 81% | $47,550−17% | High school |
| 10 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 80% | $49,880−13% | High school |
| 11 | Riggers | 80% | $62,640+9% | High school |
| 12 | Construction Laborers | 80% | $47,120−18% | High school |
| 13 | Roustabouts, Oil and GasSame group | 80% | $46,960−18% | High school |
| 14 | Helpers--Extraction WorkersSame group | 80% | $47,730−17% | High school |
| 15 | Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | 80% | $49,120−14% | High school |
| 16 | Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsSame group | 80% | $61,810+8% | High school |
| 17 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 80% | $70,070+22% | High school |
| 18 | Commercial Divers | 79% | $72,990+27% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 79% | $56,450−2% | High school |
| 20 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningSame group | 79% | $74,500+30% | High school |
- 1Pile Driver Operators
83% similar · $73,300 (+28%) · High school
- 2Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
83% similar · $59,850 (+4%) · High school
- 3Crane and Tower Operators
81% similar · $68,080 (+19%) · Training or associate
- 4Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
81% similar · $61,290 (+7%) · High school
- 5Dredge Operators
81% similar · $49,640 (−14%) · High school
- 6Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
81% similar · $58,620 (+2%) · High school · Same group
- 7Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
81% similar · $60,190 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 8Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
81% similar · $53,340 (−7%) · High school
- 9Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
81% similar · $47,550 (−17%) · High school
- 10Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
80% similar · $49,880 (−13%) · High school
- 11Riggers
80% similar · $62,640 (+9%) · High school
- 12Construction Laborers
80% similar · $47,120 (−18%) · High school
- 13Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
80% similar · $46,960 (−18%) · High school · Same group
- 14Helpers--Extraction Workers
80% similar · $47,730 (−17%) · High school · Same group
- 15Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
80% similar · $49,120 (−14%) · High school
- 16Continuous Mining Machine Operators
80% similar · $61,810 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 17Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
80% similar · $70,070 (+22%) · High school
- 18Commercial Divers
79% similar · $72,990 (+27%) · Training or associate
- 19Hoist and Winch Operators
79% similar · $56,450 (−2%) · High school
- 20Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
79% similar · $74,500 (+30%) · High school · Same group
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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators.
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining79% similar · $74,500 (+30%)
- Pile Driver Operators83% similar · $73,300 (+28%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators80% similar · $70,070 (+22%)
- Riggers80% similar · $62,640 (+9%)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators80% similar · $61,810 (+8%)
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons81% similar · $61,290 (+7%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former excavating and loading machine and dragline operators →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where excavating and loading machine and dragline operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (93)
- Dredge Operators (91)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (91)
- Construction Laborers (90)
- Hoist and Winch Operators (89)
- Logging Equipment Operators (89)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (87)
- Pile Driver Operators (86)
- Crane and Tower Operators (85)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (85)
Questions about jobs like excavating and loading machine and dragline operators
What jobs are most similar to excavating and loading machine and dragline operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Pile Driver Operators (83% similar), Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (83% similar), Crane and Tower Operators (81% similar), Refractory Materials Repairers (81% similar) and Dredge Operators (81% similar).
Which jobs like excavating and loading machine and dragline operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Loading and Moving Machine Operators ($74,500, +30%; usually a high school diploma), Pile Driver Operators ($73,300, +28%; usually a high school diploma) and Commercial Divers ($72,990, +27%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with excavating and loading machine and dragline operators ($57,430). Without more preparation than excavating and loading machine and dragline operators usually need: Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Pile Driver Operators and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment 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.