Jobs Similar to Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to tank car, truck, and ship loaders, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Pump Operators, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers and Aircraft Service Attendants.
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders: $58,870 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
- 1Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
82% similar · $61,770 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 2Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
81% similar · $96,710 (+64%) · High school
- 3Aircraft Service Attendants
80% similar · $40,450 (−31%) · High school
- 4Locomotive Engineers
80% similar · $81,410 (+38%) · High school
- 5Gas Plant Operators
80% similar · $87,820 (+49%) · High school
- 6Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
80% similar · $77,320 (+31%) · High school · Same group
- 7Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
80% similar · $60,600 (+3%) · High school
- 8Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $54,430 (−8%) · High school
- 9Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $43,220 (−27%) · High school
- 10Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $46,170 (−22%) · High school
- 11Biofuels Processing Technicians
79% similar · $62,470 (broader group) · High school
- 12Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
79% similar · $46,350 (−21%) · High school
- 13Pourers and Casters, Metal
79% similar · $51,810 (−12%) · High school
- 14Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $48,040 (−18%) · High school
- 15Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
78% similar · $68,840 (+17%) · High school
- 16Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $46,460 (−21%) · High school
- 17Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $38,180 (−35%) · High school
- 18Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $48,540 (−18%) · High school
- 19Sailors and Marine Oilers
78% similar · $51,520 (−12%) · High school
- 20Tire Builders
77% similar · $57,390 (−3%) · 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 tank car, truck, and ship loaders.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers81% similar · $96,710 (+64%)
- Gas Plant Operators80% similar · $87,820 (+49%)
- Locomotive Engineers80% similar · $81,410 (+38%)
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators80% similar · $77,320 (+31%)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers78% similar · $68,840 (+17%)
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers82% similar · $61,770 (+5%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for tank car, truck, and ship loaders also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where tank car, truck, and ship loaders is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (87)
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (86)
- Sailors and Marine Oilers (85)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (82)
- Aircraft Service Attendants (80)
- Biofuels Processing Technicians (79)
- Light Truck Drivers (79)
- Logging Equipment Operators (79)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (79)
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (79)
Questions about jobs like tank car, truck, and ship loaders
What jobs are most similar to tank car, truck, and ship loaders?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Pump Operators (82% similar), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (81% similar), Aircraft Service Attendants (80% similar), Locomotive Engineers (80% similar) and Gas Plant Operators (80% similar).
Which jobs like tank car, truck, and ship loaders pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +64%; usually a high school diploma), Gas Plant Operators ($87,820, +49%; usually a high school diploma) and Locomotive Engineers ($81,410, +38%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with tank car, truck, and ship loaders ($58,870). Without more preparation than tank car, truck, and ship loaders usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Gas Plant Operators and Locomotive Engineers.
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.