Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of underground mining loading and moving machine operators to shrink 15.8% from 2025 to 2035 (about 900 fewer jobs), with about 400 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $74,500 a year ranks 283rd of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- -15.8%
- Openings a year
- 400
- Median pay
- $74,500
- Pay rank
- 283rd of 825
Is employment of underground mining loading and moving machine operators growing or shrinking?
Shrinking: BLS projects employment of underground mining loading and moving machine operators to fall 15.8% (about 900 fewer jobs) from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is slower than the +5.1% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 60 construction and extraction occupations with a projection. That change ranks 812th of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 5,900 |
| Employment, 2035 | 5,000 |
| Projected change | -15.8% |
| Openings a year | 400 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 5,900 jobs here differ from the 5,930 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 400 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 757th most of 830 occupations. All of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force, since BLS projects no net new jobs.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for underground mining loading and moving machine operators rank?
The median of $74,500 a year ranks 283rd of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on pay and the lower half on openings.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: no formal educational credential.
- Typical on-the-job training: short-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | +1.0% | 2,400 | $57,430 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operators | +3.2% | 1,400 | $61,810 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | +4.6% | 39,200 | $59,850 |
| Pile Driver Operators | -5.7% | 200 | $73,300 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | +1.7% | 700 | $47,730 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | +1.5% | 1,200 | $70,070 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | +1.5% | 64,700 | $46,420 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | +0.2% | 300 | $56,450 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.