47 Series · SOC 47-5041
Continuous Mining Machine Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $61,810
- Median / year
- $86,210
- Top 10% earn
- +0.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 14,000
- US workers
Continuous Mining Machine Operators earn a median of $61,810 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $61,810, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $46,770 (10th percentile) to $86,210 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 14,000 US workers. Minnesota pays the most ($90,820), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Continuous Mining Machine Operators earn a median of $61,810, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 51% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #17 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.6% by 2033.
- $61,810
- Median annual wage
- Top 49%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #17 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Minnesota at $90,820. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Continuous Mining Machine Operators (SOC 47-5041) pays a national median of $61,810 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $46,770 at the 10th percentile to $86,210 at the 90th, with a mean of $65,050 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 14,000 Americans work in this occupation across 27 reporting states and 30 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 12.4 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Minnesota pays the highest state median at $90,820, which is +47% above the national figure. The top metro is Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area at $111,470 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$61,810
per year
Median Hourly
$29.72/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$65,050
average
Employment
14,000
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Continuous Mining Machine Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$61,810 Top 49% higher than 51% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Continuous Mining Machine Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Continuous Mining Machine Operators sits on the slower-growing side at +0.6% growth and $61,810 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+0.6%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,600
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
12.4/100K
Injury Rate
3.5/100
Danger Index
20.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Continuous Mining Machine Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
- ▸ Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
- ▸ Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.
- ▸ Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
- ▸ Drive machines into position at working faces.
- ▸ Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
- ▸ Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
- ▸ Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
- ▸ Install casings to prevent cave-ins.
- ▸ Observe and listen to equipment operation to detect binding or stoppage of tools or other equipment malfunctions.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$46,770
25th Percentile
$51,610
Median
$61,810
75th Percentile
$77,570
90th Percentile
$86,210
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 27 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $90,820 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Nevada | $85,590 | +38% above national |
| 3 | Wyoming | $85,260 | +38% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $81,110 | +31% above national |
| 5 | West Virginia | $77,570 | +25% above national |
| 6 | Illinois | $74,830 | +21% above national |
| 7 | Indiana | $71,570 | +16% above national |
| 8 | Virginia | $63,480 | +3% above national |
| 9 | California | $62,790 | +2% above national |
| 10 | Florida | $62,580 | +1% above national |
| 11 | Idaho | $60,990 | 1% below national |
| 12 | Arizona | $60,880 | 2% below national |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $60,780 | 2% below national |
| 14 | Utah | $59,420 | 4% below national |
| 15 | Alabama | $59,360 | 4% below national |
| 16 | North Carolina | $59,030 | 4% below national |
| 17 | Ohio | $58,030 | 6% below national |
| 18 | Michigan | $57,760 | 7% below national |
| 19 | Georgia | $57,160 | 8% below national |
| 20 | Nebraska | $51,760 | 16% below national |
| 21 | Kentucky | $50,020 | 19% below national |
| 22 | Texas | $48,950 | 21% below national |
| 23 | New Mexico | $48,900 | 21% below national |
| 24 | Arkansas | $47,890 | 23% below national |
| 25 | Missouri | $47,280 | 24% below national |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $46,980 | 24% below national |
| 27 | New York | $46,450 | 25% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 30 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $111,470 | +80% above national |
| 2 | Duluth, MN-WI | $86,230 | +40% above national |
| 3 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $85,590 | +38% above national |
| 4 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $81,040 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $77,570 | +25% above national |
| 6 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $75,930 | +23% above national |
| 7 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $74,830 | +21% above national |
| 8 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $71,280 | +15% above national |
| 9 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $70,640 | +14% above national |
| 10 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $69,930 | +13% above national |
| 11 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $66,300 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Charleston, WV | $65,280 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Beckley, WV | $64,270 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,250 | +2% above national |
| 15 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $62,700 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Tucson, AZ | $60,880 | 2% below national |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,780 | 2% below national |
| 18 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $60,300 | 2% below national |
| 19 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $58,430 | 5% below national |
| 20 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $57,900 | 6% below national |
| 21 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $54,690 | 12% below national |
| 22 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $52,640 | 15% below national |
| 23 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $49,440 | 20% below national |
| 24 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $48,900 | 21% below national |
| 25 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,120 | 22% below national |
| 26 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $47,950 | 22% below national |
| 27 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,800 | 24% below national |
| 28 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,770 | 24% below national |
| 29 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $39,540 | 36% below national |
| 30 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $36,400 | 41% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 47 (construction and extraction) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Continuous Mining Machine Operators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $77,570/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Minnesota leads at $90,820/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.