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
- $82,400
- Top 10% earn
- -0.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 34,480
- US workers
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining professionals earn a median $57,430/year ($27.61/hr) nationally. The salary ranges from $41,600 (10th percentile) to $82,400 (90th percentile). Employment is projected to decline0.4% from 2023 to 2033, declining. The highest-paying state is North Dakota at $90,380. Approximately 34,480 people work in this role across the U.S. Entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent. Workplace safety grade: B (Safe).
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (SOC 47-5022) pays a national median of $57,430 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $41,600 at the 10th percentile to $82,400 at the 90th, with a mean of $59,930 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 34,480 Americans work in this occupation across 50 reporting states and 194 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.4% change in employment from 2023 to 2033, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 3,100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required 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. North Dakota pays the highest state median at $90,380, which is +57% above the national figure. The top metro is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $142,970 — 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.
BLS OEWS May 2025 34,480 jobs Median $57,430/yr
Median Salary
$57,430
per year
Median Hourly
$27.61/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$59,930
average
Employment
34,480
jobs nationwide
This occupation vs. all-occupations US median ($63,000) 28.7%
All-occ US median
Bar fills relative to a $200K reference ceiling. Marker shows the all-occupations US median for context — anything to the right of it earns above the typical American worker.
Job Outlook (2023–2033)
Projected Growth
-0.4%
Declining
Annual Openings
3,100
per year (projected)
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, 2023–2033
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Operation and Control 4.1
Operations Monitoring 3.6
Monitoring 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Active Learning 3.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.0
Coordination 3.0
Knowledge Areas
Mechanical 3.2
Building and Construction 3.2
Public Safety and Security 3.0
English Language 2.6
Mathematics 2.6
Design 2.4
Administration and Management 2.4
Transportation 2.3
Customer and Personal Service 2.3
Education and Training 2.2
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
10th Percentile
$41,600
25th Percentile
$47,890
Median
$57,430
75th Percentile
$65,730
90th Percentile
$82,400
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 194 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 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $94,920 | +65% above national |
| 5 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $90,380 | +57% above national |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $87,060 | +52% above national |
| 7 | Farmington, NM | $85,880 | +50% above national |
| 8 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $84,560 | +47% above national |
| 9 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82,560 | +44% above national |
| 10 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $81,180 | +41% above national |
| 11 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $80,600 | +40% above national |
| 12 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $79,870 | +39% above national |
| 13 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $78,230 | +36% above national |
| 14 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $76,110 | +33% above national |
| 15 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $75,440 | +31% above national |
| 16 | New Haven, CT | $75,110 | +31% above national |
| 17 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $74,900 | +30% above national |
| 18 | Fresno, CA | $74,390 | +30% above national |
| 19 | Worcester, MA | $73,780 | +28% above national |
| 20 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $73,300 | +28% above national |
| 21 | Pittsfield, MA | $71,300 | +24% above national |
| 22 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $70,100 | +22% above national |
| 23 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $69,240 | +21% above national |
| 24 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $68,600 | +19% above national |
| 25 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $67,260 | +17% above national |
| 26 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $66,540 | +16% above national |
| 27 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $66,160 | +15% above national |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $65,900 | +15% above national |
| 29 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $65,370 | +14% above national |
| 30 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $65,290 | +14% above national |
| 31 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $65,260 | +14% above national |
| 32 | Glens Falls, NY | $65,200 | +14% above national |
| 33 | Appleton, WI | $64,720 | +13% above national |
| 34 | Albuquerque, NM | $64,650 | +13% above national |
| 35 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $64,590 | +12% above national |
| 36 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $64,580 | +12% above national |
| 37 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $64,470 | +12% above national |
| 38 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $64,400 | +12% above national |
| 39 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $64,280 | +12% above national |
| 40 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $63,700 | +11% above national |
| 41 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $63,610 | +11% above national |
| 42 | Pueblo, CO | $63,600 | +11% above national |
| 43 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,660 | +9% above national |
| 44 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $62,650 | +9% above national |
| 45 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $62,540 | +9% above national |
| 46 | Salem, OR | $62,510 | +9% above national |
| 47 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $62,040 | +8% above national |
| 48 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,990 | +8% above national |
| 49 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $61,830 | +8% above national |
| 50 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $61,770 | +8% above national |
| 51 | Vineland, NJ | $61,760 | +8% above national |
| 52 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $61,730 | +7% above national |
| 53 | Colorado Springs, CO | $61,410 | +7% above national |
| 54 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $61,410 | +7% above national |
| 55 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,330 | +7% above national |
| 56 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,140 | +6% above national |
| 57 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,140 | +6% above national |
| 58 | Toledo, OH | $61,070 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,040 | +6% above national |
| 60 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $61,000 | +6% above national |
| 61 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $60,950 | +6% above national |
| 62 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $60,850 | +6% above national |
| 63 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $60,840 | +6% above national |
| 64 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $60,630 | +6% above national |
| 65 | Beckley, WV | $60,610 | +6% above national |
| 66 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,250 | +5% above national |
| 67 | Madison, WI | $60,200 | +5% above national |
| 68 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $60,180 | +5% above national |
| 69 | Greeley, CO | $60,070 | +5% above national |
| 70 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $60,050 | +5% above national |
| 71 | Omaha, NE-IA | $59,980 | +4% above national |
| 72 | St. George, UT | $59,960 | +4% above national |
| 73 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $59,950 | +4% above national |
| 74 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,860 | +4% above national |
| 75 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $59,810 | +4% above national |
| 76 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $59,650 | +4% above national |
| 77 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $59,560 | +4% above national |
| 78 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $59,500 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Green Bay, WI | $59,280 | +3% above national |
| 80 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,280 | +3% above national |
| 81 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $59,210 | +3% above national |
| 82 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $59,140 | +3% above national |
| 83 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,040 | +3% above national |
| 84 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,030 | +3% above national |
| 85 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $58,950 | +3% above national |
| 86 | Asheville, NC | $58,710 | +2% above national |
| 87 | Richmond, VA | $58,710 | +2% above national |
| 88 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,210 | +1% above national |
| 89 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $58,110 | +1% above national |
| 90 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $58,100 | +1% above national |
| 91 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $57,920 | +1% above national |
| 92 | Columbus, OH | $57,870 | +1% above national |
| 93 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $57,640 | same as national |
| 94 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $57,640 | same as national |
| 95 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $57,370 | same as national |
| 96 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $57,010 | 1% below national |
| 97 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $56,930 | 1% below national |
| 98 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $56,800 | 1% below national |
| 99 | Fond du Lac, WI | $56,800 | 1% below national |
| 100 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $56,780 | 1% below national |
| 101 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $56,770 | 1% below national |
| 102 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $56,570 | 1% below national |
| 103 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $56,560 | 2% below national |
| 104 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $56,490 | 2% below national |
| 105 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $56,480 | 2% below national |
| 106 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $56,470 | 2% below national |
| 107 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $56,460 | 2% below national |
| 108 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $56,310 | 2% below national |
| 109 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $56,030 | 2% below national |
| 110 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $55,840 | 3% below national |
| 111 | Boise City, ID | $55,420 | 3% below national |
| 112 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $55,260 | 4% below national |
| 113 | Columbia, SC | $54,370 | 5% below national |
| 114 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $54,100 | 6% below national |
| 115 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $54,090 | 6% below national |
| 116 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $53,800 | 6% below national |
| 117 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $53,760 | 6% below national |
| 118 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $53,700 | 6% below national |
| 119 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $53,670 | 7% below national |
| 120 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $53,420 | 7% below national |
| 121 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $52,760 | 8% below national |
| 122 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $52,760 | 8% below national |
| 123 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $52,210 | 9% below national |
| 124 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,780 | 10% below national |
| 125 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $51,620 | 10% below national |
| 126 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $51,490 | 10% below national |
| 127 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $51,420 | 10% below national |
| 128 | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,210 | 11% below national |
| 129 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $51,180 | 11% below national |
| 130 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $51,150 | 11% below national |
| 131 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,150 | 11% below national |
| 132 | Lancaster, PA | $50,850 | 11% below national |
| 133 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $50,840 | 11% below national |
| 134 | Ogden, UT | $50,660 | 12% below national |
| 135 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $50,650 | 12% below national |
| 136 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $50,600 | 12% below national |
| 137 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $50,570 | 12% below national |
| 138 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $50,540 | 12% below national |
| 139 | Jacksonville, FL | $50,490 | 12% below national |
| 140 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $50,340 | 12% below national |
| 141 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $50,340 | 12% below national |
| 142 | Odessa, TX | $50,230 | 13% below national |
| 143 | Jackson, MS | $50,030 | 13% below national |
| 144 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $50,020 | 13% below national |
| 145 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $49,920 | 13% below national |
| 146 | Syracuse, NY | $49,840 | 13% below national |
| 147 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,710 | 13% below national |
| 148 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $49,520 | 14% below national |
| 149 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $49,460 | 14% below national |
| 150 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,430 | 14% below national |
| 151 | Savannah, GA | $49,400 | 14% below national |
| 152 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $49,110 | 14% below national |
| 153 | Midland, TX | $49,070 | 15% below national |
| 154 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $49,070 | 15% below national |
| 155 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $48,950 | 15% below national |
| 156 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $48,920 | 15% below national |
| 157 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $48,770 | 15% below national |
| 158 | Rochester, NY | $48,730 | 15% below national |
| 159 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $48,730 | 15% below national |
| 160 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $48,380 | 16% below national |
| 161 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,340 | 16% below national |
| 162 | Tulsa, OK | $48,330 | 16% below national |
| 163 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $48,250 | 16% below national |
| 164 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $48,250 | 16% below national |
| 165 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $48,190 | 16% below national |
| 166 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $48,180 | 16% below national |
| 167 | Utica-Rome, NY | $48,160 | 16% below national |
| 168 | Birmingham, AL | $47,970 | 16% below national |
| 169 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $47,970 | 16% below national |
| 170 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $47,840 | 17% below national |
| 171 | Binghamton, NY | $47,810 | 17% below national |
| 172 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $47,800 | 17% below national |
| 173 | Topeka, KS | $47,570 | 17% below national |
| 174 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $47,440 | 17% below national |
| 175 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,160 | 18% below national |
| 176 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $47,160 | 18% below national |
| 177 | Oklahoma City, OK | $47,100 | 18% below national |
| 178 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $46,650 | 19% below national |
| 179 | Roanoke, VA | $46,610 | 19% below national |
| 180 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $46,490 | 19% below national |
| 181 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,490 | 19% below national |
| 182 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,490 | 19% below national |
| 183 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,490 | 19% below national |
| 184 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $46,460 | 19% below national |
| 185 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,310 | 19% below national |
| 186 | El Paso, TX | $46,110 | 20% below national |
| 187 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $45,380 | 21% below national |
| 188 | Columbus, GA-AL | $44,720 | 22% below national |
| 189 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $43,980 | 23% below national |
| 190 | Lubbock, TX | $41,110 | 28% below national |
| 191 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $40,800 | 29% below national |
| 192 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $39,000 | 32% below national |
| 193 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $38,280 | 33% below national |
| 194 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $35,860 | 38% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 47 (construction and extraction) with comparable pay and career paths.
Salary Guides
Primary source data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make? ▼
The median annual salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining is $57,430 ($27.61/hour). The salary range spans from $41,600 at the 10th percentile to $82,400 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining the most? ▼
North Dakota pays the highest median salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining at $90,380/year, which is +57% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining is High school diploma or equivalent. Less than 5 years of related work experience is also typically required. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining? ▼
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 12.4 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.5 per 100 workers.
Is Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining a good career? ▼
Employment for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining is projected to decline 0.4% from 2023 to 2033, which is declining. About 3,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay vary by state? ▼
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is North Dakota at $90,380/year, while Alabama pays the least at $47,770/year. BLS data covers 50 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $142,970/year. BLS reports wage data for 194 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.