47 Series · SOC 47-5022
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $57,430
- Median / year
- +9.3%
- 2024→2025
- $82,400
- Top 10% earn
- -0.4%
- Growth '24–'34
- 34,480
- Estimated US jobs
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining earn a median of $57,430 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $57,430, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $41,600 (10th percentile) to $82,400 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 34,480 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is North Dakota ($90,380).
The pay verdict
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining earn a median of $57,430, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 44% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #29 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.4% by 2034.
- $57,430
- Median annual wage
- Top 56%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #29 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 2.0×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: North Dakota at $90,380. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining moved from $44,800 in May 2019 to $57,430 in May 2025 (+28.2%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining sits +3.7 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (SOC 47-5022) has a national median of $57,430 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $41,600 to $82,400, and the published mean is $59,930. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 34,480 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 50 state or territory areas and 194 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $52,550 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $57,430 in May 2025, a rise of $4,880 (+9.3%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 3,100 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry and less than 5 years as the typical related-work-experience category, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Construction and Extraction Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. North Dakota pays the highest state median at $90,380, which is +57% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $142,970. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$57,430
per year
Median Hourly
$27.61/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$59,930
average
Employment
34,480
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$57,430 Bottom 44% higher than 44% 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.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 (this entry) | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$57,430 · 44th percentile of 825 US occupations
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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Construction Laborers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $47120
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.3%, Median annual wage $79920
- Electricians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.5%, Median annual wage $63190
- Carpenters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $60580
- Operating Engineers …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $59850
- Plumbers, Pipefitter…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $63800
- Painters, Constructi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $49400
- Cement Masons and Co…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $57020
- Highway Maintenance …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $50260
- Construction and Bui…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.8%, Median annual wage $74690
- Roofers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.9%, Median annual wage $55440
- Sheet Metal Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.4%, Median annual wage $61800
- Drywall and Ceiling …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $58930
- Structural Iron and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $62780
- Helpers--Electricians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $42670
- Glaziers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $57080
- Brickmasons and Bloc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $62120
- Hazardous Materials …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $49450
- Roustabouts, Oil and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $46960
- Insulation Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $49120
- Helpers--Pipelayers,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $42360
- Service Unit Operato…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.4%, Median annual wage $58160
- Paving, Surfacing, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $53340
- Tile and Stone Setters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.1%, Median annual wage $55690
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.4%, Median annual wage $57430
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-0.4%
Declining
Annual Openings
3,100
per year (projected)
Employment Change
-100
35,800 (2024) → 35,600 (2034)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Construction and Extraction Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
- ▸ Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
- ▸ Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
- ▸ Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
- ▸ Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- ▸ Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
- ▸ Direct workers engaged in placing blocks or outriggers to prevent capsizing of machines when lifting heavy loads.
- ▸ Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
- ▸ Measure and verify levels of rock or gravel, bases, or other excavated material.
- ▸ Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
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
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay history, 2019–2025
Published national median across 7 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $44,800 |
| 2020 | $45,150 |
| 2021 | $46,740 |
| 2022 | $48,350 |
| 2023 | $50,050 |
| 2024 | $52,550 |
| 2025 | $57,430 |
2019 median
$44,800
2025 median
$57,430
2019–2025 change
+$12,630 (+28.2%)
Avg/year
+4.2%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | $44,800 | First banked release | 44,090 |
| May 2020 | $45,150 | +0.8% | 40,240 |
| May 2021 | $46,740 | +3.5% | 35,720 |
| May 2022 | $48,350 | +3.4% | 33,670 |
| May 2023 | $50,050 | +3.5% | 32,630 |
| May 2024 | $52,550 | +5.0% | 34,210 |
| May 2025 | $57,430 | +9.3% | 34,480 |
Across the 7 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $44,800 in May 2019 to $57,430 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.2% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 44,090 in May 2019 to 34,480 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 50 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $90,380 | +57% above national |
| 2 | Illinois | $80,600 | +40% above national |
| 3 | New Jersey | $80,310 | +40% above national |
| 4 | Wyoming | $78,230 | +36% above national |
| 5 | New Mexico | $76,350 | +33% above national |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $76,070 | +32% above national |
| 7 | Alaska | $74,680 | +30% above national |
| 8 | California | $74,500 | +30% above national |
| 9 | Montana | $65,850 | +15% above national |
| 10 | Connecticut | $65,710 | +14% above national |
| 11 | Washington | $64,270 | +12% above national |
| 12 | Nevada | $63,810 | +11% above national |
| 13 | Indiana | $61,910 | +8% above national |
| 14 | West Virginia | $61,330 | +7% above national |
| 15 | Oregon | $61,280 | +7% above national |
| 16 | Minnesota | $61,260 | +7% above national |
| 17 | Colorado | $61,020 | +6% above national |
| 18 | Arizona | $60,310 | +5% above national |
| 19 | Vermont | $59,790 | +4% above national |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $59,590 | +4% above national |
| 21 | Virginia | $59,480 | +4% above national |
| 22 | Iowa | $59,390 | +3% above national |
| 23 | Michigan | $59,040 | +3% above national |
| 24 | Idaho | $58,670 | +2% above national |
| 25 | North Carolina | $58,620 | +2% above national |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $58,540 | +2% above national |
| 27 | Nebraska | $58,370 | +2% above national |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $58,280 | +1% above national |
| 29 | Ohio | $58,240 | +1% above national |
| 30 | New York | $58,120 | +1% above national |
| 31 | Maryland | $57,610 | same as national |
| 32 | Missouri | $56,760 | 1% below national |
| 33 | Maine | $55,890 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Utah | $54,330 | 5% below national |
| 35 | Louisiana | $53,510 | 7% below national |
| 36 | South Carolina | $52,580 | 8% below national |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $52,350 | 9% below national |
| 38 | Florida | $51,990 | 9% below national |
| 39 | Georgia | $50,290 | 12% below national |
| 40 | Tennessee | $49,500 | 14% below national |
| 41 | Texas | $49,000 | 15% below national |
| 42 | Kansas | $48,950 | 15% below national |
| 43 | Mississippi | $48,490 | 16% below national |
| 44 | South Dakota | $48,250 | 16% below national |
| 45 | Kentucky | $47,780 | 17% below national |
| 46 | Alabama | $47,770 | 17% below national |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $47,100 | 18% below national |
| 48 | Delaware | $46,900 | 18% below national |
| 49 | Arkansas | $46,170 | 20% below national |
| 50 | Puerto Rico | $35,870 | 38% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 118 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $142,970 | +149% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $122,410 | +113% above national |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $94,960 | +65% above national |
| 4 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $87,060 | +52% above national |
| 5 | Farmington, NM | $85,880 | +50% above national |
| 6 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82,560 | +44% above national |
| 7 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $81,180 | +41% above national |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $76,110 | +33% above national |
| 9 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $75,440 | +31% above national |
| 10 | New Haven, CT | $75,110 | +31% above national |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $74,390 | +30% above national |
| 12 | Worcester, MA | $73,780 | +28% above national |
| 13 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $73,300 | +28% above national |
| 14 | Pittsfield, MA | $71,300 | +24% above national |
| 15 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $69,240 | +21% above national |
| 16 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $68,600 | +19% above national |
| 17 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $67,260 | +17% above national |
| 18 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $66,160 | +15% above national |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $65,900 | +15% above national |
| 20 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $65,370 | +14% above national |
| 21 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $65,290 | +14% above national |
| 22 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $65,260 | +14% above national |
| 23 | Glens Falls, NY | $65,200 | +14% above national |
| 24 | Appleton, WI | $64,720 | +13% above national |
| 25 | Albuquerque, NM | $64,650 | +13% above national |
| 26 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $64,580 | +12% above national |
| 27 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $64,470 | +12% above national |
| 28 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $64,400 | +12% above national |
| 29 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $63,700 | +11% above national |
| 30 | Pueblo, CO | $63,600 | +11% above national |
| 31 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,660 | +9% above national |
| 32 | Salem, OR | $62,510 | +9% above national |
| 33 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,990 | +8% above national |
| 34 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $61,830 | +8% above national |
| 35 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $61,770 | +8% above national |
| 36 | Vineland, NJ | $61,760 | +8% above national |
| 37 | Colorado Springs, CO | $61,410 | +7% above national |
| 38 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $61,410 | +7% above national |
| 39 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,330 | +7% above national |
| 40 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,140 | +6% above national |
| 41 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,140 | +6% above national |
| 42 | Toledo, OH | $61,070 | +6% above national |
| 43 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,040 | +6% above national |
| 44 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $60,950 | +6% above national |
| 45 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $60,850 | +6% above national |
| 46 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $60,840 | +6% above national |
| 47 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $60,630 | +6% above national |
| 48 | Beckley, WV | $60,610 | +6% above national |
| 49 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,250 | +5% above national |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $60,200 | +5% above national |
| 51 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $60,180 | +5% above national |
| 52 | Greeley, CO | $60,070 | +5% above national |
| 53 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $60,050 | +5% above national |
| 54 | Omaha, NE-IA | $59,980 | +4% above national |
| 55 | St. George, UT | $59,960 | +4% above national |
| 56 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,860 | +4% above national |
| 57 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $59,560 | +4% above national |
| 58 | Green Bay, WI | $59,280 | +3% above national |
| 59 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,280 | +3% above national |
| 60 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,040 | +3% above national |
| 61 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,030 | +3% above national |
| 62 | Asheville, NC | $58,710 | +2% above national |
| 63 | Richmond, VA | $58,710 | +2% above national |
| 64 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $58,110 | +1% above national |
| 65 | Columbus, OH | $57,870 | +1% above national |
| 66 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $57,640 | same as national |
| 67 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $57,640 | same as national |
| 68 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $56,800 | 1% below national |
| 69 | Fond du Lac, WI | $56,800 | 1% below national |
| 70 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $56,780 | 1% below national |
| 71 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $56,570 | 1% below national |
| 72 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $56,560 | 2% below national |
| 73 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $56,480 | 2% below national |
| 74 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $56,470 | 2% below national |
| 75 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $56,460 | 2% below national |
| 76 | Boise City, ID | $55,420 | 3% below national |
| 77 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $55,260 | 4% below national |
| 78 | Columbia, SC | $54,370 | 5% below national |
| 79 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $53,800 | 6% below national |
| 80 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $53,700 | 6% below national |
| 81 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $53,420 | 7% below national |
| 82 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $52,760 | 8% below national |
| 83 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,780 | 10% below national |
| 84 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $51,420 | 10% below national |
| 85 | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,210 | 11% below national |
| 86 | Lancaster, PA | $50,850 | 11% below national |
| 87 | Ogden, UT | $50,660 | 12% below national |
| 88 | Jacksonville, FL | $50,490 | 12% below national |
| 89 | Odessa, TX | $50,230 | 13% below national |
| 90 | Jackson, MS | $50,030 | 13% below national |
| 91 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $49,920 | 13% below national |
| 92 | Syracuse, NY | $49,840 | 13% below national |
| 93 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $49,520 | 14% below national |
| 94 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,430 | 14% below national |
| 95 | Savannah, GA | $49,400 | 14% below national |
| 96 | Midland, TX | $49,070 | 15% below national |
| 97 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $48,920 | 15% below national |
| 98 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $48,770 | 15% below national |
| 99 | Rochester, NY | $48,730 | 15% below national |
| 100 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $48,380 | 16% below national |
| 101 | Tulsa, OK | $48,330 | 16% below national |
| 102 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $48,250 | 16% below national |
| 103 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $48,190 | 16% below national |
| 104 | Utica-Rome, NY | $48,160 | 16% below national |
| 105 | Birmingham, AL | $47,970 | 16% below national |
| 106 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $47,970 | 16% below national |
| 107 | Binghamton, NY | $47,810 | 17% below national |
| 108 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $47,800 | 17% below national |
| 109 | Topeka, KS | $47,570 | 17% below national |
| 110 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,160 | 18% below national |
| 111 | Oklahoma City, OK | $47,100 | 18% below national |
| 112 | Roanoke, VA | $46,610 | 19% below national |
| 113 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $46,490 | 19% below national |
| 114 | El Paso, TX | $46,110 | 20% below national |
| 115 | Columbus, GA-AL | $44,720 | 22% below national |
| 116 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $43,980 | 23% below national |
| 117 | Lubbock, TX | $41,110 | 28% below national |
| 118 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $35,860 | 38% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 47 (Construction and Extraction Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Boilermakers
SOC 47-2011
Brickmasons and Blockmasons
SOC 47-2021
Carpenters
SOC 47-2031
Carpet Installers
SOC 47-2041
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
SOC 47-2051
Showing 5 of 59 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Construction and Extraction Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($57,430 here) and reported employment (34,480 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make? ▼
Where does Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining the most? ▼
What education do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining? ▼
Is Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining a good career? ▼
How does Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $65,730/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: North Dakota leads at $90,380/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.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
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.