47 Series · SOC 47-5044
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground 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).
- $74,500
- Median / year
- $87,730
- Top 10% earn
- -22.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 5,930
- US workers
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining earn a median of $74,500 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $74,500, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $52,030 (10th percentile) to $87,730 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 5,930 US workers. Wyoming pays the most ($112,110), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining earn a median of $74,500, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 66% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #7 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 22.3% by 2033.
- $74,500
- Median annual wage
- Top 34%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #7 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Wyoming at $112,110. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (SOC 47-5044) pays a national median of $74,500 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $52,030 at the 10th percentile to $87,730 at the 90th, with a mean of $71,240 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 5,930 Americans work in this occupation across 20 reporting states and 13 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -22.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 500 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 short-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. Wyoming pays the highest state median at $112,110, which is +50% above the national figure. The top metro is Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area at $112,110 - 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
$74,500
per year
Median Hourly
$35.82/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$71,240
average
Employment
5,930
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$74,500 Top 34% higher than 66% 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 Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining sits on the slower-growing side at -22.3% growth and $74,500 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-22.3%
Declining
Annual Openings
500
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-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 Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
- ▸ Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
- ▸ Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
- ▸ Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
- ▸ Stop gathering arms when cars are full.
- ▸ Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.
- ▸ Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.
- ▸ Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel.
- ▸ Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.
- ▸ Operate levers to move conveyor booms or shovels so that mine contents such as coal, rock, and ore can be placed into cars or onto conveyors.
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
$52,030
25th Percentile
$61,410
Median
$74,500
75th Percentile
$79,150
90th Percentile
$87,730
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 20 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $112,110 | +50% above national |
| 2 | Alaska | $93,130 | +25% above national |
| 3 | Nevada | $82,920 | +11% above national |
| 4 | South Carolina | $80,480 | +8% above national |
| 5 | Colorado | $79,150 | +6% above national |
| 6 | Virginia | $76,900 | +3% above national |
| 7 | Illinois | $75,890 | +2% above national |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $75,240 | +1% above national |
| 9 | West Virginia | $74,950 | +1% above national |
| 10 | Arizona | $72,430 | 3% below national |
| 11 | Ohio | $71,380 | 4% below national |
| 12 | New York | $60,890 | 18% below national |
| 13 | Alabama | $60,020 | 19% below national |
| 14 | Michigan | $59,310 | 20% below national |
| 15 | Missouri | $52,040 | 30% below national |
| 16 | Georgia | $50,380 | 32% below national |
| 17 | Louisiana | $48,670 | 35% below national |
| 18 | Iowa | $48,490 | 35% below national |
| 19 | Texas | $47,310 | 36% below national |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $44,760 | 40% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 13 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $112,110 | +50% above national |
| 2 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $87,730 | +18% above national |
| 3 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $82,920 | +11% above national |
| 4 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $81,100 | +9% above national |
| 5 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $80,480 | +8% above national |
| 6 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $79,440 | +7% above national |
| 7 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $76,900 | +3% above national |
| 8 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $75,740 | +2% above national |
| 9 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $74,680 | same as national |
| 10 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $74,670 | same as national |
| 11 | Beckley, WV | $74,130 | same as national |
| 12 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $57,730 | 23% below national |
| 13 | Baton Rouge, LA | $47,910 | 36% 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 Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $79,150/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: Wyoming leads at $112,110/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.