Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining earn a median $57,430 a year nationally. Construction and Extraction Occupations
U.S. median
$57,430
$27.61 per hour
Range
$41,600 – $82,400
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
34,480
across the U.S.
▲9.3%
Pay trend: The median for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the U.S. rose from $52,550 (May 2024) to $57,430 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 6.9%.
What excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining do
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.0% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 2,400
Employment of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining is projected to grow 1.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$48,325
per year · effective tax rate 15.9%
$4,027Monthly
$2,014Twice a month
$1,859Every 2 weeks
$23.23Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,712
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,561
- Medicare (1.45%)$833
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$48,325
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,600 | $20.00 | $35,606 |
| 25th percentile | $47,890 | $23.02 | $40,660 |
| Median (50th) | $57,430 | $27.61 | $48,325 |
| 75th percentile | $65,730 | $31.60 | $54,994 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,400 | $39.62 | $66,798 |
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $90,380 | +17.9% | $71,909 | $50,440 – $123,880 | 220 |
| Illinois | $80,600 | +29.3% | $61,687 | $46,130 – $93,290 | 1,310 |
| New Jersey | $80,310 | −23.9% | $62,402 | $54,220 – $123,590 | 740 |
| Wyoming | $78,230 | +2.7% | $63,865 | $57,700 – $88,000 | 420 |
| New Mexico | $76,350 | +33.6% | $60,119 | $44,840 – $85,880 | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 | +2.4% | $58,762 | $55,210 – $110,730 | 280 |
| Alaska | $74,680 | −5.1% | $61,367 | $42,680 – $106,110 | 140 |
| California | $74,500 | +1.3% | $57,524 | $54,390 – $142,600 | 790 |
| Montana | $65,850 | +1.7% | $52,731 | $40,990 – $92,910 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 | +9.5% | $52,939 | $46,930 – $85,040 | 280 |
| Washington | $64,270 | +2.8% | $53,821 | $50,970 – $93,150 | 640 |
| Nevada | $63,810 | +12.9% | $53,451 | $46,920 – $88,760 | 730 |
| Indiana | $61,910 | −9.2% | $50,128 | $48,940 – $90,350 | 1,530 |
| West Virginia | $61,330 | −2.5% | $49,435 | $46,030 – $79,320 | 650 |
| Oregon | $61,280 | +1.7% | $46,886 | $50,390 – $74,420 | 310 |
| Minnesota | $61,260 | −22.5% | $48,760 | $47,100 – $85,030 | 520 |
| Colorado | $61,020 | −1.0% | $49,233 | $49,400 – $94,930 | 820 |
| Arizona | $60,310 | +5.6% | $49,340 | $47,510 – $88,130 | 560 |
| Vermont | $59,790 | +1.0% | $48,652 | $44,760 – $71,050 | 250 |
| Rhode Island | $59,590 | — | $48,443 | $46,120 – $73,860 | 50 |
| Virginia | $59,480 | +10.6% | $47,366 | $40,410 – $83,080 | 1,150 |
| Iowa | $59,390 | +13.8% | $48,295 | $41,600 – $63,590 | 560 |
| Michigan | $59,040 | +9.8% | $47,360 | $45,730 – $71,090 | 880 |
| Idaho | $58,670 | +2.7% | $47,320 | $47,060 – $71,750 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $58,620 | +15.3% | $47,451 | $46,780 – $64,020 | — |
| New Hampshire | $58,540 | −3.6% | $49,217 | $48,010 – $83,530 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $58,370 | +16.7% | $47,304 | $46,800 – $65,820 | 300 |
| Wisconsin | $58,280 | +0.8% | $47,225 | $49,110 – $73,870 | 990 |
| Ohio | $58,240 | +4.0% | $48,157 | $45,610 – $97,020 | 1,120 |
| New York | $58,120 | +2.9% | $46,338 | $44,930 – $95,000 | 1,490 |
| Maryland | $57,610 | −11.5% | $46,097 | $41,600 – $75,730 | 730 |
| Missouri | $56,760 | +2.3% | $46,056 | $43,370 – $61,720 | 310 |
| Maine | $55,890 | +1.0% | $44,497 | $44,480 – $76,230 | 230 |
| Utah | $54,330 | +4.0% | $44,355 | $46,560 – $69,180 | 400 |
| Louisiana | $53,510 | +22.5% | $43,956 | $23,660 – $64,120 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $52,580 | +14.0% | $42,430 | $39,020 – $61,730 | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,350 | +7.4% | $42,636 | $45,800 – $60,220 | 1,520 |
| Florida | $51,990 | +10.1% | $43,954 | $40,370 – $63,640 | 1,480 |
| Georgia | $50,290 | +2.8% | $40,601 | $44,270 – $61,990 | 1,180 |
| Tennessee | $49,500 | +5.1% | $41,953 | $40,800 – $76,000 | 550 |
| Texas | $49,000 | +2.4% | $41,552 | $38,760 – $67,560 | 5,030 |
| Kansas | $48,950 | −1.4% | $39,580 | $44,180 – $57,970 | 270 |
| Mississippi | $48,490 | +18.3% | $39,934 | $35,150 – $59,020 | 290 |
| South Dakota | $48,250 | −7.1% | $40,949 | $41,600 – $61,980 | 280 |
| Kentucky | $47,780 | +2.8% | $39,017 | $37,210 – $68,390 | 790 |
| Alabama | $47,770 | +3.6% | $38,440 | $36,770 – $59,000 | 410 |
| Oklahoma | $47,100 | +4.7% | $38,451 | $40,000 – $55,990 | 1,440 |
| Delaware | $46,900 | −15.2% | $37,938 | $36,480 – $70,440 | 130 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | +2.0% | $37,690 | $37,690 – $49,700 | 250 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $60,190 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.6% |
| Extraction Workers, All Other | $57,010 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.4% |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,160 | No formal educational credential | +1.1% |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | $58,620 | No formal educational credential | +1.6% |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $61,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | 0.0% |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operator | $61,810 | No formal educational credential | +3.2% |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | $48,740 | No formal educational credential | +5.8% |
| Helpers--Extraction Worker | $47,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.7% |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $67,890 | No formal educational credential | +0.8% |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $46,960 | No formal educational credential | +3.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make?
The national median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining is $57,430 a year ($27.61 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,600 and the top 10% earn over $82,400. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining the most?
North Dakota has the highest median pay at $90,380.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are there in the U.S.?
About 34,480 people work as excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining nationwide.