17 Series · SOC 17-2151

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$106,220
Median / year
$169,990
Top 10% earn
+0.7%
Growth '23–'33
6,080
US workers

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earn a median of $106,220 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $106,220, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $67,490 (10th percentile) to $169,990 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 6,080 US workers. California pays the most ($158,130), since pay varies by state and metro area.

17 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers earn a median of $106,220, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 88% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #14 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.7% by 2033.

$106,220
Median annual wage
Top 12%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#14 of 36
in Architecture and Engineering
2.5×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $158,130. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers (SOC 17-2151) pays a national median of $106,220 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $67,490 at the 10th percentile to $169,990 at the 90th, with a mean of $115,410 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 6,080 Americans work in this occupation across 28 reporting states and 35 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $158,130, which is +49% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $173,790 - 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.

BLS OEWS May 2025 6,080 jobs Median $106,220/yr

Median Salary

$106,220

per year

Median Hourly

$51.07/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$115,410

average

Employment

6,080

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$106,220 Top 12% higher than 88% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers sits on the slower-growing side at +0.7% growth and $106,220 median pay.

Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers sits on the slower-growing side at +0.7% growth and $106,220 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers sits on the slower-growing side at +0.7% growth and $106,220 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+0.7%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

400

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

2/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

3/100

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 Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Complex Problem Solving 4.1
Reading Comprehension 4.0
Writing 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Judgment and Decision Making 4.0
Active Listening 3.9
Mathematics 3.8
Monitoring 3.8
Systems Analysis 3.8

Knowledge Areas

Engineering and Technology 4.5
Mathematics 4.4
English Language 3.6
Production and Processing 3.6
Design 3.6
Administration and Management 3.4
Administrative 3.3
Physics 3.3
Economics and Accounting 3.2
Computers and Electronics 3.1

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
  • ▸ Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  • ▸ Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.
  • ▸ Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
  • ▸ Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
  • ▸ Implement and coordinate mine safety programs, including the design and maintenance of protective and rescue equipment and safety devices.
  • ▸ Devise solutions to problems of land reclamation and water and air pollution, such as methods of storing excavated soil and returning exhausted mine sites to natural states.
  • ▸ Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
  • ▸ Lay out, direct, and supervise mine construction operations, such as the construction of shafts and tunnels.
  • ▸ Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$67,490$85,280$106,220$136,590$169,990
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$32.45$41.00$51.07$65.67$81.73
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$67,490

25th Percentile

$85,280

Median

$106,220

75th Percentile

$136,590

90th Percentile

$169,990

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. California $158,130 2. Oklahoma $131,660 3. Utah $125,520 4. Alaska $124,630 5. Idaho $123,680

Lowest Paying States

24. North Carolina $70,310 25. New York $82,200 26. Ohio $86,210 27. Pennsylvania $87,020 28. Minnesota $91,610
View all 28 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $158,130 +49% above national
2 Oklahoma $131,660 +24% above national
3 Utah $125,520 +18% above national
4 Alaska $124,630 +17% above national
5 Idaho $123,680 +16% above national
6 Wyoming $119,010 +12% above national
7 Florida $117,500 +11% above national
8 Indiana $113,640 +7% above national
9 Illinois $107,690 +1% above national
10 Nevada $107,500 +1% above national
11 Montana $105,410 1% below national
12 Virginia $104,960 1% below national
13 Kentucky $103,300 3% below national
14 Alabama $102,530 3% below national
15 Arizona $102,130 4% below national
16 Texas $100,580 5% below national
17 Tennessee $100,390 5% below national
18 South Carolina $98,790 7% below national
19 West Virginia $97,960 8% below national
20 Michigan $97,310 8% below national
21 Colorado $96,820 9% below national
22 Oregon $96,210 9% below national
23 Wisconsin $95,950 10% below national
24 Minnesota $91,610 14% below national
25 Pennsylvania $87,020 18% below national
26 Ohio $86,210 19% below national
27 New York $82,200 23% below national
28 North Carolina $70,310 34% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $173,790 2. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $166,770 3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $144,230 4. Anchorage, AK $141,080 5. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $131,770

Lowest Paying Metros

31. Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area $62,210 32. Pittsburgh, PA $74,900 33. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $78,720 34. Farmington, NM $79,890 35. Beckley, WV $81,370
View all 35 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $173,790 +64% above national
2 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $166,770 +57% above national
3 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $144,230 +36% above national
4 Anchorage, AK $141,080 +33% above national
5 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $131,770 +24% above national
6 Oklahoma City, OK $131,660 +24% above national
7 Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $127,970 +20% above national
8 Colorado Springs, CO $125,980 +19% above national
9 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $124,630 +17% above national
10 Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $120,830 +14% above national
11 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $119,990 +13% above national
12 Wheeling, WV-OH $117,670 +11% above national
13 High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area $116,650 +10% above national
14 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $114,290 +8% above national
15 Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $109,710 +3% above national
16 Birmingham, AL $107,660 +1% above national
17 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $107,590 +1% above national
18 Tucson, AZ $106,220 same as national
19 Lexington-Fayette, KY $105,890 same as national
20 South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $105,590 1% below national
21 Fairbanks-College, AK $102,010 4% below national
22 Reno, NV $100,670 5% below national
23 Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $99,570 6% below national
24 Arizona nonmetropolitan area $98,480 7% below national
25 Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $97,360 8% below national
26 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $93,100 12% below national
27 Duluth, MN-WI $91,420 14% below national
28 Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $85,840 19% below national
29 Charleston, WV $84,450 20% below national
30 Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $81,880 23% below national
31 Beckley, WV $81,370 23% below national
32 Farmington, NM $79,890 25% below national
33 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $78,720 26% below national
34 Pittsburgh, PA $74,900 29% below national
35 Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area $62,210 41% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

SOC 17-3021

Aerospace Engineers

SOC 17-2011

Agricultural Engineers

SOC 17-2021

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

SOC 17-1011

Architectural and Civil Drafters

SOC 17-3011
Compare Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers is $106,220 ($51.07/hour). The salary range spans from $67,490 at the 10th percentile to $169,990 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers at $158,130/year, which is +49% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers? ▼
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 2 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers a good career? ▼
Employment for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers is projected to grow 0.7% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 400 openings are projected each year.
How does Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers pay vary by state? ▼
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $158,130/year, while Minnesota pays the least at $91,610/year. BLS data covers 28 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $173,790/year. BLS reports wage data for 35 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $136,590/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: California leads at $158,130/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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

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.