47 Series · SOC 47-5049

Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other Salary

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

$70,130
Median / year
$85,010
Top 10% earn
-6.1%
Growth '23–'33
3,180
US workers

Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other earn a median of $70,130 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $70,130, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $49,020 (10th percentile) to $85,010 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 3,180 US workers. Alaska pays the most ($106,840), since pay varies by state and metro area.

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

Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other earn a median of $70,130, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 62% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #9 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 6.1% by 2033.

$70,130
Median annual wage
Top 38%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#9 of 60
in Construction and Extraction
1.7×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Alaska at $106,840. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other (SOC 47-5049) pays a national median of $70,130 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $49,020 at the 10th percentile to $85,010 at the 90th, with a mean of $69,860 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 3,180 Americans work in this occupation across 9 reporting states and 5 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -6.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining 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 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. Alaska pays the highest state median at $106,840, which is +52% above the national figure. The top metro is Alaska nonmetropolitan area at $106,840 - 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 3,180 jobs Median $70,130/yr

Median Salary

$70,130

per year

Median Hourly

$33.72/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$69,860

average

Employment

3,180

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other pay sits nationally

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

$70,130 Top 38% higher than 62% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $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 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at -6.1% growth and $70,130 median pay.

Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at -6.1% growth and $70,130 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $40000$50000$60000$70000$80000$90000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at -6.1% growth and $70,130 median pay.

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

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-6.1%

Declining

Annual Openings

400

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 →
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

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$49,020$51,670$70,130$83,120$85,010
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$23.57$24.84$33.72$39.96$40.87
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$49,020

25th Percentile

$51,670

Median

$70,130

75th Percentile

$83,120

90th Percentile

$85,010

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Alaska $106,840 2. Montana $84,410 3. Minnesota $83,120 4. Illinois $72,800 5. Utah $67,200

Lowest Paying States

5. Pennsylvania $54,480 6. Nevada $59,810 7. Virginia $61,990 8. West Virginia $65,610 9. Utah $67,200
View all 9 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Alaska $106,840 +52% above national
2 Montana $84,410 +20% above national
3 Minnesota $83,120 +19% above national
4 Illinois $72,800 +4% above national
5 Utah $67,200 4% below national
6 West Virginia $65,610 6% below national
7 Virginia $61,990 12% below national
8 Nevada $59,810 15% below national
9 Pennsylvania $54,480 22% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Alaska nonmetropolitan area $106,840 2. Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $80,480 3. South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $71,770 4. Wheeling, WV-OH $65,610 5. Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $59,810

Lowest Paying Metros

1. Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $59,810 2. Wheeling, WV-OH $65,610 3. South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $71,770 4. Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $80,480 5. Alaska nonmetropolitan area $106,840
View all 5 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $106,840 +52% above national
2 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $80,480 +15% above national
3 South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $71,770 +2% above national
4 Wheeling, WV-OH $65,610 6% below national
5 Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $59,810 15% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 47 (construction and extraction) with comparable pay and career paths.

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
Compare Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other make? ▼
The median annual salary for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other is $70,130 ($33.72/hour). The salary range spans from $49,020 at the 10th percentile to $85,010 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other the most? ▼
Alaska pays the highest median salary for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other at $106,840/year, which is +52% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other? ▼
Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other 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 Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other a good career? ▼
Employment for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other is projected to decline 6.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 400 openings are projected each year.
How does Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other pay vary by state? ▼
Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Alaska at $106,840/year, while Utah pays the least at $67,200/year. BLS data covers 9 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other is Alaska nonmetropolitan area at $106,840/year. BLS reports wage data for 5 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 Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $83,120/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: Alaska leads at $106,840/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.