Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Mean (average) | $59,930 | $28.81 |
| 90th percentile | $82,400 | $39.61 |
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
Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,770 | $36,770 | $59,000 | 410 | 0.88 |
| Alaska | $74,680 | $42,680 | $106,110 | 140 | 1.99 |
| Arizona | $60,310 | $47,510 | $88,130 | 560 | 0.78 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | $37,690 | $49,700 | 250 | 0.87 |
| California | $74,500 | $54,390 | $142,600 | 790 | 0.19 |
| Colorado | $61,020 | $49,400 | $94,930 | 820 | 1.28 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 | $46,930 | $85,040 | 280 | 0.73 |
| Delaware | $46,900 | $36,480 | $70,440 | 130 | 1.21 |
| Florida | $51,990 | $40,370 | $63,640 | 1,480 | 0.67 |
| Georgia | $50,290 | $44,270 | $61,990 | 1,180 | 1.08 |
| Idaho | $58,670 | $47,060 | $71,750 | 190 | 0.99 |
| Illinois | $80,600 | $46,130 | $93,290 | 1,310 | 0.97 |
| Indiana | $61,910 | $48,940 | $90,350 | 1,530 | 2.16 |
| Iowa | $59,390 | $41,600 | $63,590 | 560 | 1.62 |
| Kansas | $48,950 | $44,180 | $57,970 | 270 | 0.85 |
| Kentucky | $47,780 | $37,210 | $68,390 | 790 | 1.79 |
| Louisiana | $53,510 | $23,660 | $64,120 | 280 | 0.65 |
| Maine | $55,890 | $44,480 | $76,230 | 230 | 1.6 |
| Maryland | $57,610 | $41,600 | $75,730 | 730 | 1.18 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 | $55,210 | $110,730 | 280 | 0.35 |
| Michigan | $59,040 | $45,730 | $71,090 | 880 | 0.9 |
| Minnesota | $61,260 | $47,100 | $85,030 | 520 | 0.79 |
| Mississippi | $48,490 | $35,150 | $59,020 | 290 | 1.12 |
| Missouri | $56,760 | $43,370 | $61,720 | 310 | 0.48 |
| Montana | $65,850 | $40,990 | $92,910 | 150 | 1.35 |
| Nebraska | $58,370 | $46,800 | $65,820 | 300 | 1.31 |
| Nevada | $63,810 | $46,920 | $88,760 | 730 | 2.11 |
| New Hampshire | $58,540 | $48,010 | $83,530 | 350 | 2.32 |
| New Jersey | $80,310 | $54,220 | $123,590 | 740 | 0.78 |
| New Mexico | $76,350 | $44,840 | $85,880 | 270 | 1.42 |
| New York | $58,120 | $44,930 | $95,000 | 1,490 | 0.69 |
| North Carolina | $58,620 | $46,780 | $64,020 | ||
| North Dakota | $90,380 | $50,440 | $123,880 | 220 | 2.31 |
| Ohio | $58,240 | $45,610 | $97,020 | 1,120 | 0.91 |
| Oklahoma | $47,100 | $40,000 | $55,990 | 1,440 | 3.8 |
| Oregon | $61,280 | $50,390 | $74,420 | 310 | 0.72 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,350 | $45,800 | $60,220 | 1,520 | 1.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,870 | $27,220 | $65,830 | 130 | 0.64 |
| Rhode Island | $59,590 | $46,120 | $73,860 | 50 | 0.48 |
| South Carolina | $52,580 | $39,020 | $61,730 | 330 | 0.65 |
| South Dakota | $48,250 | $41,600 | $61,980 | 280 | 2.74 |
| Tennessee | $49,500 | $40,800 | $76,000 | 550 | 0.76 |
| Texas | $49,000 | $38,760 | $67,560 | 5,030 | 1.61 |
| Utah | $54,330 | $46,560 | $69,180 | 400 | 1.05 |
| Vermont | $59,790 | $44,760 | $71,050 | 250 | 3.67 |
| Virginia | $59,480 | $40,410 | $83,080 | 1,150 | 1.26 |
| Washington | $64,270 | $50,970 | $93,150 | 640 | 0.82 |
| West Virginia | $61,330 | $46,030 | $79,320 | 650 | 4.18 |
| Wisconsin | $58,280 | $49,110 | $73,870 | 990 | 1.51 |
| Wyoming | $78,230 | $57,700 | $88,000 | 420 | 6.72 |
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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,400. 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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- 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
- Move levers, depress foot pedals, and turn dials to operate power machinery, such as power shovels, stripping shovels, scraper loaders, or backhoes.
- Set up or inspect equipment prior to operation.
- Become familiar with digging plans, machine capabilities and limitations, and efficient and safe digging procedures in a given application.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines so that work can be performed to specifications.
- Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating or breaking rock or concrete, or making winter roads.
- Receive written or oral instructions regarding material movement or excavation.
- Move materials over short distances, such as around a construction site, factory, or warehouse.
- Create or maintain inclines or ramps.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Email software
- Google Gmail
- Machine control systems
- Machine monitoring software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Backhoe Operator, Dragline Oiler, Dragline Operator, Equipment Operator, Excavator Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Loader Operator, Pit Operator, Track Hoe 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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make?
The national median annual wage for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining was $57,430 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $41,600 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $82,400. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining a growing career?
BLS projects employment of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining to change +1.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were North Dakota ($90,380), Illinois ($80,600), New Jersey ($80,310). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.