Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,030 | $25.02 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Mean (average) | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| 90th percentile | $87,730 | $42.18 |
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
Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 20 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,020 | $50,720 | $60,240 | 510 | 6.37 |
| Alaska | $93,130 | $74,460 | $117,340 | 50 | 3.94 |
| Arizona | $72,430 | $57,850 | $79,260 | 100 | 0.8 |
| Colorado | $79,150 | $68,470 | $81,070 | 70 | 0.61 |
| Georgia | $50,380 | $37,760 | $64,210 | 100 | 0.53 |
| Illinois | $75,890 | $65,630 | $87,210 | 90 | 0.4 |
| Iowa | $48,490 | $46,560 | $59,260 | 100 | 1.76 |
| Louisiana | $48,670 | $36,930 | $72,360 | 110 | 1.5 |
| Michigan | $59,310 | $47,260 | $70,920 | 80 | 0.5 |
| Missouri | $52,040 | $39,160 | $58,120 | 100 | 0.94 |
| Nevada | $82,920 | $68,060 | $91,880 | 880 | 14.95 |
| New York | $60,890 | $47,030 | $61,300 | 140 | 0.39 |
| Ohio | $71,380 | $41,100 | $97,280 | 130 | 0.62 |
| Oklahoma | $44,760 | $33,440 | $73,160 | 70 | 1.09 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,240 | $67,100 | $78,190 | ||
| South Carolina | $80,480 | $56,400 | $80,480 | 30 | 0.36 |
| Texas | $47,310 | $40,220 | $80,720 | 70 | 0.13 |
| Virginia | $76,900 | $66,210 | $93,120 | 190 | 1.21 |
| West Virginia | $74,950 | $64,120 | $81,100 | 1,250 | 46.62 |
| Wyoming | $112,110 | $106,590 | $120,400 | 30 | 3.22 |
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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-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
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
- Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
- Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
- Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
- Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.
- Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel.
- Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Automated systems software
- Inventory management systems
- Maintenance management software
- Mine maintenance software
- Work time accounting software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Coordination, Equipment Maintenance, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Coal Hauler Operator, Equipment Operator, Load Haul Dump Operator (LHD Operator), Loader Operator, Loading Machine Operator, Miner Operator, Production Miner, Ram Car Operator, Shuttle Car Operator, Underground Miner.
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 loading and moving machine operators, underground mining make?
The national median annual wage for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining was $74,500 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $52,030 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $87,730. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do loading and moving machine operators, underground mining need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is loading and moving machine operators, underground mining a growing career?
BLS projects employment of loading and moving machine operators, underground mining to change -15.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay loading and moving machine operators, underground mining the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Wyoming ($112,110), Alaska ($93,130), Nevada ($82,920). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.