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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay in the United States

In the U.S., the median pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining is $27.61 an hour ($57,430 a year). About 34,480 people work in this job there.

$27.61Median hourly pay
$47,890–$65,730Middle half of workers, yearly
34,480People in this job in the U.S.

Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the U.S.

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$20.00$41,600
25% of workers$23.03$47,890
Half of workers (median)$27.61$57,430
75% of workers$31.60$65,730
90% of workers$39.61$82,400

Best-paying states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

StateMedian yearly payPeople in this job
North Dakota$90,380220
Illinois$80,6001,310
New Jersey$80,310740
Wyoming$78,230420
New Mexico$76,350270
Massachusetts$76,070280
Alaska$74,680140
California$74,500790
Montana$65,850150
Connecticut$65,710280

Pay by state

Education, experience and outlook for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

  • Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
  • Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +1% over ten years, little or no change · about 2,400 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian yearly pay
Construction Laborers$47,120
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
Crane and Tower Operators$68,080
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$60,190
Continuous Mining Machine Operators$61,810
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,500

Other job titles for this job

Backhoe OperatorAerial Tram OperatorAir Shovel OperatorBack Digger OperatorBack Filler OperatorBack Hoe Machine OperatorClam Shovel OperatorCoal Equipment OperatorDiesel Scoop OperatorDragline OilerDragline OperatorEarth Moving Equipment Operator

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.