Jobs Similar to Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners, Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors and Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: $58,640 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. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 81% | $49,880−15% | High school |
| 2 | Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | 81% | $49,690−15% | High school |
| 3 | Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 81% | $60,600+3% | High school |
| 4 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | 79% | $86,380+47% | High school |
| 5 | Motorboat Operators | 79% | $47,520−19% | High school |
| 6 | Light Truck DriversSame group | 78% | $44,860−23% | High school |
| 7 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 78% | $59,850+2% | High school |
| 8 | Locomotive Engineers | 78% | $81,410+39% | High school |
| 9 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 78% | $46,420−21% | High school |
| 10 | Sailors and Marine Oilers | 77% | $51,520−12% | High school |
| 11 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 77% | $40,450−31% | High school |
| 12 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | 77% | $68,840+17% | High school |
| 13 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | 76% | $58,8700% | High school |
| 14 | Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation | 75% | $92,100Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 15 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | 75% | $60,190+3% | High school |
| 16 | Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursSame group | 75% | $37,290−36% | High school |
| 17 | Pile Driver Operators | 75% | $73,300+25% | High school |
| 18 | Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercitySame group | 75% | $59,050+1% | High school |
| 19 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 75% | $70,070+19% | High school |
| 20 | Crane and Tower Operators | 75% | $68,080+16% | Training or associate |
- 1Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
81% similar · $49,880 (−15%) · High school
- 2Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
81% similar · $49,690 (−15%) · High school
- 3Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
81% similar · $60,600 (+3%) · High school
- 4Subway and Streetcar Operators
79% similar · $86,380 (+47%) · High school
- 5Motorboat Operators
79% similar · $47,520 (−19%) · High school
- 6Light Truck Drivers
78% similar · $44,860 (−23%) · High school · Same group
- 7Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
78% similar · $59,850 (+2%) · High school
- 8Locomotive Engineers
78% similar · $81,410 (+39%) · High school
- 9Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
78% similar · $46,420 (−21%) · High school
- 10Sailors and Marine Oilers
77% similar · $51,520 (−12%) · High school
- 11Aircraft Service Attendants
77% similar · $40,450 (−31%) · High school
- 12Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
77% similar · $68,840 (+17%) · High school
- 13Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
76% similar · $58,870 (0%) · High school
- 14Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
75% similar · $92,100 (broader group) · High school
- 15Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
75% similar · $60,190 (+3%) · High school
- 16Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
75% similar · $37,290 (−36%) · High school · Same group
- 17Pile Driver Operators
75% similar · $73,300 (+25%) · High school
- 18Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
75% similar · $59,050 (+1%) · High school · Same group
- 19Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
75% similar · $70,070 (+19%) · High school
- 20Crane and Tower Operators
75% similar · $68,080 (+16%) · Training or associate
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 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
- Subway and Streetcar Operators79% similar · $86,380 (+47%)
- Locomotive Engineers78% similar · $81,410 (+39%)
- Pile Driver Operators75% similar · $73,300 (+25%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators75% similar · $70,070 (+19%)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers77% similar · $68,840 (+17%)
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers81% similar · $60,600 (+3%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (91)
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (88)
- Motorboat Operators (86)
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators (82)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (81)
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders (80)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (78)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (78)
- Aircraft Service Attendants (77)
- Highway Maintenance Workers (77)
Questions about jobs like heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
What jobs are most similar to heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (81% similar), Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (81% similar), Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (81% similar), Subway and Streetcar Operators (79% similar) and Motorboat Operators (79% similar).
Which jobs like heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Subway and Streetcar Operators ($86,380, +47%; usually a high school diploma), Locomotive Engineers ($81,410, +39%; usually a high school diploma) and Pile Driver Operators ($73,300, +25%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers ($58,640). Without more preparation than heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers usually need: Subway and Streetcar Operators, Locomotive Engineers 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.