Jobs Similar to Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Also called: Paving Equipment Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Pile Driver Operators, Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators and Commercial Divers.
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators: $53,340 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. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pile Driver OperatorsSame group | 81% | $73,300+37% | High school |
| 2 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 81% | $57,430+8% | High school |
| 3 | Commercial Divers | 79% | $72,990+37% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters | 79% | $47,550−11% | High school |
| 5 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 79% | $39,630−26% | High school |
| 6 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | 78% | $46,960−12% | High school |
| 7 | Construction LaborersSame group | 78% | $47,120−12% | High school |
| 8 | PipelayersSame group | 78% | $49,000−8% | High school |
| 9 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsSame group | 78% | $59,850+12% | High school |
| 10 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersSame group | 78% | $63,800+20% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 77% | $78,620+47% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 77% | $61,290+15% | High school |
| 13 | Continuous Mining Machine Operators | 77% | $61,810+16% | High school |
| 14 | Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | 77% | $58,620+10% | High school |
| 15 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 76% | $74,340+39% | Training or associate |
| 16 | RoofersSame group | 76% | $55,440+4% | High school |
| 17 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 76% | $49,880−6% | High school |
| 18 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | 76% | $60,190+13% | High school |
| 19 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 76% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 76% | $70,070+31% | High school |
- 1Pile Driver Operators
81% similar · $73,300 (+37%) · High school · Same group
- 2Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
81% similar · $57,430 (+8%) · High school
- 3Commercial Divers
79% similar · $72,990 (+37%) · Training or associate
- 4Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
79% similar · $47,550 (−11%) · High school
- 5Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
79% similar · $39,630 (−26%) · High school
- 6Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
78% similar · $46,960 (−12%) · High school
- 7Construction Laborers
78% similar · $47,120 (−12%) · High school · Same group
- 8Pipelayers
78% similar · $49,000 (−8%) · High school · Same group
- 9Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
78% similar · $59,850 (+12%) · High school · Same group
- 10Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
78% similar · $63,800 (+20%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 11Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
77% similar · $78,620 (+47%) · Training or associate
- 12Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
77% similar · $61,290 (+15%) · High school
- 13Continuous Mining Machine Operators
77% similar · $61,810 (+16%) · High school
- 14Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
77% similar · $58,620 (+10%) · High school
- 15Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
76% similar · $74,340 (+39%) · Training or associate
- 16Roofers
76% similar · $55,440 (+4%) · High school · Same group
- 17Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
76% similar · $49,880 (−6%) · High school
- 18Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
76% similar · $60,190 (+13%) · High school
- 19Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
76% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
76% similar · $70,070 (+31%) · 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 paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators.
- Pile Driver Operators81% similar · $73,300 (+37%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators76% similar · $70,070 (+31%)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators77% similar · $61,810 (+16%)
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons77% similar · $61,290 (+15%)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas76% similar · $60,190 (+13%)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators78% similar · $59,850 (+12%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (85)
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (81)
- Highway Maintenance Workers (80)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (80)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators (79)
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas (79)
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters (79)
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (79)
- Agricultural Equipment Operators (78)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (78)
Questions about jobs like paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
What jobs are most similar to paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Pile Driver Operators (81% similar), Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (81% similar), Commercial Divers (79% similar), Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters (79% similar) and Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (79% similar).
Which jobs like paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators ($78,620, +47%; usually training or an associate degree), Control and Valve Installers and Repairers ($74,340, +39%; usually training or an associate degree) and Pile Driver Operators ($73,300, +37%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators ($53,340). Without more preparation than paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators usually need: Pile Driver Operators, Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators and Continuous Mining Machine 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.