Jobs Similar to Service Unit Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to service unit operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Rotary Drill Operators, Derrick Operators and Roustabouts (Oil and Gas).
Service Unit Operators: $58,160 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
- 1Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
79% similar · $67,890 (+17%) · High school · Same group
- 2Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
78% similar · $58,620 (+1%) · High school · Same group
- 3Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
78% similar · $46,960 (−19%) · High school · Same group
- 4Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $54,430 (−6%) · High school
- 5Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
76% similar · $96,710 (+66%) · High school
- 6Helpers--Extraction Workers
76% similar · $47,730 (−18%) · High school · Same group
- 7Recycling and Reclamation Workers
76% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school
- 8Rock Splitters, Quarry
76% similar · $48,740 (−16%) · High school · Same group
- 9Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
76% similar · $43,220 (−26%) · High school
- 10Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
75% similar · $50,270 (−14%) · High school
- 11Roof Bolters, Mining
75% similar · $78,540 (+35%) · High school · Same group
- 12Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
75% similar · $57,430 (−1%) · High school · Same group
- 13Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
75% similar · $43,960 (−24%) · High school
- 14Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
75% similar · $44,350 (−24%) · High school
- 15Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
75% similar · $46,460 (−20%) · High school
- 16Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
75% similar · $70,070 (+20%) · High school
- 17Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
75% similar · $38,670 (−34%) · High school
- 18Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
75% similar · $53,710 (−8%) · High school
- 19Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
75% similar · $48,540 (−17%) · High school
- 20Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
75% similar · $46,170 (−21%) · 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 service unit operators.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers76% similar · $96,710 (+66%)
- Roof Bolters, Mining75% similar · $78,540 (+35%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators75% similar · $70,070 (+20%)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas79% similar · $67,890 (+17%)
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas78% similar · $58,620 (+1%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for service unit operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where service unit operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like service unit operators
What jobs are most similar to service unit operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Rotary Drill Operators (79% similar), Derrick Operators (78% similar), Roustabouts (Oil and Gas) (78% similar), Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (78% similar) and Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (76% similar).
Which jobs like service unit operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +66%; usually a high school diploma), Roof Bolters ($78,540, +35%; usually a high school diploma) and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators ($70,070, +20%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with service unit operators ($58,160). Without more preparation than service unit operators usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Roof Bolters 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.