Jobs Similar to Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Also called: Operating Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners and Pile Driver Operators.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: $59,850 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
- 1Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
83% similar · $57,430 (−4%) · High school
- 2Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
82% similar · $49,880 (−17%) · High school
- 3Pile Driver Operators
81% similar · $73,300 (+22%) · High school · Same group
- 4Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
81% similar · $60,190 (+1%) · High school
- 5Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
79% similar · $70,070 (+17%) · High school
- 6Helpers--Extraction Workers
79% similar · $47,730 (−20%) · High school
- 7Dredge Operators
79% similar · $49,640 (−17%) · High school
- 8Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
79% similar · $46,960 (−22%) · High school
- 9Crane and Tower Operators
79% similar · $68,080 (+14%) · Training or associate
- 10Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
79% similar · $61,290 (+2%) · High school
- 11Continuous Mining Machine Operators
78% similar · $61,810 (+3%) · High school
- 12Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
78% similar · $58,640 (−2%) · High school
- 13Logging Equipment Operators
78% similar · $49,740 (−17%) · High school
- 14Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
78% similar · $53,340 (−11%) · High school · Same group
- 15Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
77% similar · $49,690 (−17%) · High school
- 16Tree Trimmers and Pruners
77% similar · $50,960 (−15%) · High school
- 17Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
77% similar · $74,500 (+24%) · High school
- 18Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
77% similar · $47,550 (−21%) · High school
- 19Roof Bolters, Mining
77% similar · $78,540 (+31%) · High school
- 20Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
77% similar · $46,420 (−22%) · 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 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators.
- Roof Bolters, Mining77% similar · $78,540 (+31%)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining77% similar · $74,500 (+24%)
- Pile Driver Operators81% similar · $73,300 (+22%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators79% similar · $70,070 (+17%)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators78% similar · $61,810 (+3%)
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons79% similar · $61,290 (+2%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former operating engineers and other construction equipment operators →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where operating engineers and other construction equipment operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (93)
- Dredge Operators (89)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (89)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators (88)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (88)
- Logging Equipment Operators (88)
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators (87)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (87)
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (86)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (86)
Questions about jobs like operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
What jobs are most similar to operating engineers and other construction equipment operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (83% similar), Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (82% similar), Pile Driver Operators (81% similar), Earth Drillers (81% similar) and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (79% similar).
Which jobs like operating engineers and other construction equipment operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Roof Bolters ($78,540, +31%; 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 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators ($59,850). Without more preparation than operating engineers and other construction equipment operators 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.