Construction and Extraction

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

10/100
#688 of 825
$57,430
median pay, U.S.
34,480
employed (2024)
-0.4%
growth, 2024–34
3,100
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining a good career?

It scores 10/100 and ranks #688 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Employment is projected to decline (-0.4% through 2034)
  • Often needs prior experience (less than 5 years)

What excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn between $47,890 and $65,730 a year.

Best-paying states

North Dakota statewide
$90,380
Illinois statewide
$80,600
New Jersey statewide
$80,310
Wyoming statewide
$78,230
New Mexico statewide
$76,350
Massachusetts statewide
$76,070
Alaska statewide
$74,680
California statewide
$74,500
Montana statewide
$65,850
Connecticut statewide
$65,710
$40k $100k $160k

Best-paying metros

01 Sacramento, CA $142,970
02 San Francisco, CA $122,410
03 New York, NY $94,960
04 Chicago, IL $87,060
05 Farmington, NM $85,880
06 San Jose, CA $82,560
07 Minneapolis, MN $81,180
08 Boston, MA $76,110

Strongest employment concentration

01 Texas 5,030
02 Indiana 1,530
03 Pennsylvania 1,520
04 New York 1,490
05 Florida 1,480
06 Oklahoma 1,440

Live excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining jobs

No live excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining openings will appear here — each shown against the $57,430 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

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How to become an excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

No formal educational credential · $46,960 median
No formal educational credential · $58,160 median
High school diploma or equivalent · $60,190 median
Questions about becoming a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
How much do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make?

The national median wage is $57,430 a year, with the middle half earning between $47,890 and $65,730 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 10 of 100 and ranks #688 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -0.4% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent, usually with less than 5 years.

Where do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn the most?

Among states, North Dakota pays the highest median ($90,380). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →