Helpers--Extraction Workers vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: $48K vs $60K Median Pay

Helpers--Extraction Workers vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: what changes?

Consider Helpers--Extraction Workers if you want to help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Consider Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators if you would rather operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade…. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Helpers--Extraction Workers and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Helpers--Extraction Workers

National median pay (2025): $47,730
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Observe and monitor equipment operation during the extraction process to detect any problems.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 700

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (7,100 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Helpers--Extraction Workers brief

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

National median pay (2025): $59,850
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Learn and follow safety regulations.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 39,200

Know before you choose

Errors can seriously affect people, equipment, or operations. Checking and accountability are part of the job, not optional polish.

See the full Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators brief

How the national numbers differ

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on annual openings

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is at 39,200 annual openings, compared with 700 annual openings for Helpers--Extraction Workers.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on projected growth

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is at 4.6% projected growth, compared with 1.7% projected growth for Helpers--Extraction Workers.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on median pay

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is at $59,850, compared with $47,730 for Helpers--Extraction Workers.

33.2/ 100

Helpers--Extraction Workers

68.8/ 100

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Helpers--Extraction Workers vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Dimension	Helpers--Extraction Workers	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Median pay (2025)	$47,730	$59,850
Pay percentile	25.7 percentile	47.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	1.7%	4.6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	700	39,200
2025 employment	7,100	489,500
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Helpers--Extraction Workers brief Read Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators brief

Helpers--Extraction Workers vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Helpers--Extraction Workers

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

How the national numbers differ

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on annual openings

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on projected growth

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on median pay

Helpers--Extraction Workers vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

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