Career Paths From Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

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.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningLateral Move95.1% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% lower.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$57,430
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsLateral Move94.8% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Continuous Mining Machine Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Continuous Mining Machine Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% higher.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$61,810
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pile Driver OperatorsLateral Move96.8% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Pile Driver Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Pile Driver 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
$59,850
Target median salary
$73,300
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsCareer Change94.8% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 22% lower.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$46,420
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crane and Tower OperatorsCareer Change95.8% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Crane and Tower Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% 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 14% higher.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$68,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsLateral Move94.5% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$53,340
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsLateral Move95.4% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% 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 17% higher.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$70,070
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasLateral Move96% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$60,190
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsCareer Change93.9% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 29% higher.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$77,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Plant OperatorsCareer Change95.4% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Power Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Power Plant Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 70% higher.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$102,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except BrickmasonsCareer Change96.7% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$61,290
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Agricultural Equipment OperatorsCareer Change95.8% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Agricultural Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Agricultural Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 30% lower.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$41,730
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Logging Equipment OperatorsCareer Change96.4% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Logging Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Logging Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 17% lower.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$49,740
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersCareer Change93.7% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 31% lower.
Current median salary
$59,850
Target median salary
$41,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pourers and Casters, MetalCareer Change93.5% skill match
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Pourers and Casters, Metal share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Pourers and Casters, Metal 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
$59,850
Target median salary
$51,810
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.