Career Paths From Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsLateral Move95.1% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% higher.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$59,850
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsLateral Move95.6% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Continuous Mining Machine Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Continuous Mining Machine Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% higher.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$61,810
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Hoist and Winch OperatorsCareer Change93.1% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Hoist and Winch Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Hoist and Winch Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$56,450
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crane and Tower OperatorsCareer Change93.9% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Crane and Tower Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Crane and Tower Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 19% higher.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$68,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasLateral Move92.4% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 5% higher.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$60,190
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsLateral Move93.5% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 22% higher.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$70,070
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
RiggersCareer Change92% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Riggers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Riggers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 9% higher.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$62,640
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasLateral Move94.5% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 18% higher.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$67,890
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Dredge OperatorsCareer Change92.1% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Dredge Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Dredge Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 14% lower.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$49,640
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallLateral Move92.2% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 14% lower.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$49,120
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticCareer Change92.9% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 20% lower.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$46,170
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except BrickmasonsCareer Change93.9% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 7% higher.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$61,290
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Logging Equipment OperatorsCareer Change92% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Logging Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Logging Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 13% lower.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$49,740
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodCareer Change92.6% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 26% lower.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$42,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersCareer Change93.9% skill match
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 19% lower.
Current median salary
$57,430
Target median salary
$46,350
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.