Career Paths From Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping 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.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsLateral Move94.5% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% 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 12% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$59,850
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pile Driver OperatorsLateral Move95.5% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Pile Driver Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Pile Driver Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 37% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$73,300
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsLateral Move97.3% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% 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 31% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$70,070
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasLateral Move95.7% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping 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. Median salary is about 13% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$60,190
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsLateral Move94.5% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Continuous Mining Machine Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Continuous Mining Machine Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 16% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$61,810
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Roustabouts, Oil and GasLateral Move95.3% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Roustabouts, Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Roustabouts, Oil and Gas sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 12% lower.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$46,960
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsCareer Change93.1% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% 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 45% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$77,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorCareer Change93.6% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door 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 39% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$74,340
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Crane and Tower OperatorsCareer Change94.3% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators 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 28% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$68,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Roof Bolters, MiningLateral Move93.3% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Roof Bolters, Mining share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Roof Bolters, Mining sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 47% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$78,540
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except BrickmasonsCareer Change94.1% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators 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 15% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$61,290
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsCareer Change95.1% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 10% lower.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$47,880
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersCareer Change93.8% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers 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
$53,340
Target median salary
$39,630
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Helpers--Extraction WorkersLateral Move94.2% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Helpers--Extraction Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Helpers--Extraction Workers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$47,730
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsCareer Change93.4% skill match
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators and Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists 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 16% higher.
Current median salary
$53,340
Target median salary
$61,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3

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.