Continuous mining machine operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,770 | $22.49 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| Mean (average) | $65,050 | $31.27 |
| 90th percentile | $86,210 | $41.45 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Continuous mining machine operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 27 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $59,360 | $56,820 | $62,140 | 340 | 1.81 |
| Arizona | $60,880 | $49,180 | $78,660 | 2,850 | 9.76 |
| Arkansas | $47,890 | $33,760 | $66,560 | 80 | 0.68 |
| California | $62,790 | $56,340 | $82,250 | 940 | 0.57 |
| Colorado | $81,110 | $73,130 | $81,110 | 290 | 1.14 |
| Florida | $62,580 | $40,540 | $67,340 | 230 | 0.25 |
| Georgia | $57,160 | $46,790 | $64,870 | 140 | 0.32 |
| Idaho | $60,990 | $49,550 | $84,180 | 70 | 0.91 |
| Illinois | $74,830 | $47,490 | $79,280 | 230 | 0.42 |
| Indiana | $71,570 | $65,850 | $75,520 | 170 | 0.58 |
| Kentucky | $50,020 | $48,950 | $68,260 | 390 | 2.18 |
| Michigan | $57,760 | $49,080 | $79,110 | 180 | 0.45 |
| Minnesota | $90,820 | $59,640 | $102,850 | 420 | 1.58 |
| Missouri | $47,280 | $36,310 | $75,000 | 920 | 3.47 |
| Nebraska | $51,760 | $49,120 | $64,950 | 70 | 0.79 |
| Nevada | $85,590 | $69,680 | $91,210 | 1,110 | 7.95 |
| New Mexico | $48,900 | $38,630 | $61,850 | 470 | 6.06 |
| New York | $46,450 | $38,400 | $63,450 | 180 | 0.21 |
| North Carolina | $59,030 | $55,790 | $61,480 | 230 | 0.52 |
| Ohio | $58,030 | $46,800 | $76,370 | 260 | 0.51 |
| Oklahoma | $46,980 | $39,520 | $57,480 | 310 | 2.04 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,780 | $49,360 | $63,200 | 510 | 0.93 |
| Texas | $48,950 | $24,020 | $63,470 | 390 | 0.31 |
| Utah | $59,420 | $49,280 | $77,580 | 890 | 5.72 |
| Virginia | $63,480 | $48,860 | $79,270 | 230 | 0.63 |
| West Virginia | $77,570 | $59,840 | $90,690 | 720 | 11.45 |
| Wyoming | $85,260 | $60,520 | $114,540 | 330 | 13.03 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for continuous mining machine operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for continuous mining machine operators
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
- Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
- Check the stability of roof and rib support systems before mining face areas.
- Operate mining machines to gather coal and convey it to floors or shuttle cars.
- Drive machines into position at working faces.
- Move controls to start and regulate movement of conveyors and to start and position drill cutters or torches.
- Reposition machines to make additional holes or cuts.
- Determine locations, boundaries, and depths of holes or channels to be cut.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Fleet monitoring system software
- Hitachi ZXLink
- Leica Geosystems FMS
- Minitab
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Bore Miner Operator, Continuous Miner, Continuous Miner Operator (CMO), Continuous Mining Machine Operator, Continuous Mining Operator (CMO), Heavy Equipment Operator, Loader Operator, Mine Technician, Mine Utility Operator, Miner Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do continuous mining machine operators make?
The national median annual wage for continuous mining machine operators was $61,810 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,770 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $86,210. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do continuous mining machine operators need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is continuous mining machine operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of continuous mining machine operators to change +3.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay continuous mining machine operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($90,820), Nevada ($85,590), Wyoming ($85,260). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.