Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the United States was $57,430 ($27.61 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 25th | $47,890 | $23.03 |
| Median | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| 75th | $65,730 | $31.60 |
| 90th | $82,400 | $39.61 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 47-5022
- Total U.S. employment: 34,480
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
What this means
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $41,600, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $82,400 — a 2.0x gap between entry-level and top earners.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,770 | $22.97 | -16.8% | 410 |
| Alaska | $74,680 | $35.90 | +30.0% | 140 |
| Arizona | $60,310 | $29.00 | +5.0% | 560 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | $22.20 | -19.6% | 250 |
| California | $74,500 | $35.82 | +29.7% | 790 |
| Colorado | $61,020 | $29.34 | +6.3% | 820 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 | $31.59 | +14.4% | 280 |
| Delaware | $46,900 | $22.55 | -18.3% | 130 |
| Florida | $51,990 | $25.00 | -9.5% | 1,480 |
| Georgia | $50,290 | $24.18 | -12.4% | 1,180 |
| Idaho | $58,670 | $28.21 | +2.2% | 190 |
| Illinois | $80,600 | $38.75 | +40.3% | 1,310 |
| Indiana | $61,910 | $29.77 | +7.8% | 1,530 |
| Iowa | $59,390 | $28.55 | +3.4% | 560 |
| Kansas | $48,950 | $23.53 | -14.8% | 270 |
| Kentucky | $47,780 | $22.97 | -16.8% | 790 |
| Louisiana | $53,510 | $25.73 | -6.8% | 280 |
| Maine | $55,890 | $26.87 | -2.7% | 230 |
| Maryland | $57,610 | $27.70 | +0.3% | 730 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 | $36.57 | +32.5% | 280 |
| Michigan | $59,040 | $28.38 | +2.8% | 880 |
| Minnesota | $61,260 | $29.45 | +6.7% | 520 |
| Mississippi | $48,490 | $23.31 | -15.6% | 290 |
| Missouri | $56,760 | $27.29 | -1.2% | 310 |
| Montana | $65,850 | $31.66 | +14.7% | 150 |
| Nebraska | $58,370 | $28.06 | +1.6% | 300 |
| Nevada | $63,810 | $30.68 | +11.1% | 730 |
| New Hampshire | $58,540 | $28.14 | +1.9% | 350 |
| New Jersey | $80,310 | $38.61 | +39.8% | 740 |
| New Mexico | $76,350 | $36.71 | +32.9% | 270 |
| New York | $58,120 | $27.94 | +1.2% | 1,490 |
| North Carolina | $58,620 | $28.18 | +2.1% | 0 |
| North Dakota | $90,380 | $43.45 | +57.4% | 220 |
| Ohio | $58,240 | $28.00 | +1.4% | 1,120 |
| Oklahoma | $47,100 | $22.64 | -18.0% | 1,440 |
| Oregon | $61,280 | $29.46 | +6.7% | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,350 | $25.17 | -8.8% | 1,520 |
| Rhode Island | $59,590 | $28.65 | +3.8% | 50 |
| South Carolina | $52,580 | $25.28 | -8.4% | 330 |
| South Dakota | $48,250 | $23.20 | -16.0% | 280 |
| Tennessee | $49,500 | $23.80 | -13.8% | 550 |
| Texas | $49,000 | $23.56 | -14.7% | 5,030 |
| Utah | $54,330 | $26.12 | -5.4% | 400 |
| Vermont | $59,790 | $28.75 | +4.1% | 250 |
| Virginia | $59,480 | $28.60 | +3.6% | 1,150 |
| Washington | $64,270 | $30.90 | +11.9% | 640 |
| West Virginia | $61,330 | $29.49 | +6.8% | 650 |
| Wisconsin | $58,280 | $28.02 | +1.5% | 990 |
| Wyoming | $78,230 | $37.61 | +36.2% | 420 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining?
The median annual wage for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining is $57,430 ($27.61 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 34,480 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $27.61. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.