Mining machine operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level mining machine operator earnings begin at:

$42.76 per hour

$88,940 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level mining machine operator earnings begin at:

$38.41 per hour

$79,890 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level mining machine operator earnings begin at:

$33.92 per hour

$70,550 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level mining machine operator earnings begin at:

$28.28 per hour

$58,810 per year

10th percentile

Starting level mining machine operator earnings begin at:

$23.33 per hour

$48,540 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Mining machine operator salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Wyoming $77,220
Alaska $70,550
Montana $68,580
Nevada $64,240
New Mexico $61,700
Idaho $61,200
Colorado $60,770
Illinois $59,040
Ohio $57,340
Alabama $56,850
West Virginia $55,300
Indiana $54,610
Florida $51,180
Kentucky $50,180
South Carolina $48,950
North Carolina $47,700
Washington $46,620
New York $46,110
Virginia $46,110
Pennsylvania $45,500
California $45,310
Wisconsin $43,820
Georgia $43,490
Arizona $43,401
Missouri $42,780
Tennessee $40,620
Michigan $40,020
Iowa $39,080
South Dakota $38,630
Arkansas $38,610
Maryland $36,020
Texas $36,010
Oklahoma $33,300

How do mining machine operator salaries compare to similar careers?

Mining machine operators earn about the same as related careers in Alaska. On average, they make less than avionics technicians but more than power plant operators.

Career Median Salary
Avionics technician salary $73K
Oil and gas rotary drill operator salary $72K
Welder salary $67K
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $69K
Geothermal technician salary $67K
Mining machine operator salary $71K
Rigger salary $60K
Hydroelectric plant technician salary $70K
Machinist salary $68K
Power plant operator salary $56K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)