Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for loading and moving machine operators, underground minings across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $109,860 | $112,110 | $53 | +54.2% | 30 |
| 2 | Alaska | $93,010 | $93,130 | $45 | +30.6% | 50 |
| 3 | Nevada | $84,310 | $82,920 | $41 | +18.3% | 880 |
| 4 | Colorado | $78,280 | $79,150 | $38 | +9.9% | 70 |
| 5 | Virginia | $78,100 | $76,900 | $38 | +9.6% | 190 |
| 6 | Illinois | $77,020 | $75,890 | $37 | +8.1% | 90 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $74,470 | $75,240 | $36 | +4.5% | — |
| 8 | West Virginia | $74,200 | $74,950 | $36 | +4.2% | 1,250 |
| 9 | Ohio | $71,690 | $71,380 | $34 | +0.6% | 130 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $69,600 | $80,480 | $33 | -2.3% | 30 |
| 11 | Arizona | $68,620 | $72,430 | $33 | -3.7% | 100 |
| 12 | Michigan | $58,960 | $59,310 | $28 | -17.2% | 80 |
| 13 | Alabama | $58,030 | $60,020 | $28 | -18.5% | 510 |
| 14 | New York | $57,380 | $60,890 | $28 | -19.5% | 140 |
| 15 | Texas | $53,730 | $47,310 | $26 | -24.6% | 70 |
| 16 | Georgia | $52,060 | $50,380 | $25 | -26.9% | 100 |
| 17 | Iowa | $51,760 | $48,490 | $25 | -27.3% | 100 |
| 18 | Missouri | $51,310 | $52,040 | $25 | -28% | 100 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $50,950 | $48,670 | $25 | -28.5% | 110 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $49,460 | $44,760 | $24 | -30.6% | 70 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 13 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $112,110 | $111,430 | 30 |
| 2 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $87,730 | $83,530 | 50 |
| 3 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $82,920 | $84,710 | 860 |
| 4 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $81,100 | $76,020 | 140 |
| 5 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $80,480 | $64,130 | 30 |
| 6 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $79,440 | $77,320 | 70 |
| 7 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $76,900 | $78,230 | 190 |
| 8 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $75,740 | $74,410 | 370 |
| 9 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $74,680 | $72,550 | — |
| 10 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $74,670 | $74,170 | 430 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing loading and moving machine operators, underground minings (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metal Ore Mining | $82,920 | $83,020 | 980 |
| 2 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $74,650 | $71,840 | 5,460 |
| 3 | Coal Mining | $74,650 | $72,220 | 3,550 |
| 4 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $74,650 | $71,950 | 5,590 |
| 5 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $74,500 | $71,240 | 5,930 |
| 6 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $74,500 | $71,240 | 5,930 |
| 7 | Support Activities for Mining | $74,460 | $76,540 | 130 |
| 8 | Support Activities for Mining | $74,460 | $76,540 | 130 |
| 9 | Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $57,850 | $58,640 | 930 |
| 10 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $50,380 | $52,780 | 60 |
| 11 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $49,520 | $55,960 | 100 |
| 12 | Specialty Trade Contractors | $48,160 | $49,820 | 90 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do loading and moving machine operators, underground mining make in the U.S.?
The median loading and moving machine operators, underground mining salary in the United States is $74,500 per year (mean $71,240), and about 80% earn between $52,030 and $87,730.
How much do loading and moving machine operators, underground mining make per hour?
Roughly $34 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $71,240 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays loading and moving machine operators, underground mining the most?
Wyoming has the highest average pay for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining at $109,860 per year (median $112,110).
What is the job outlook for loading and moving machine operators, underground mining?
Employment is projected to change -22.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 500 openings per year.