Surface Mining Machine Operators and Earth Drillers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for surface mining machine operators and earth drillerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $60,980 ≈ $29/hr
National median salary $58,280
Total employment 53,920 nationwide
State-level and metro breakdowns aren’t published for this aggregate occupation group. National figures are shown above; browse a specific occupation for full state detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do surface mining machine operators and earth drillers make in the U.S.?
The median surface mining machine operators and earth drillers salary in the United States is $58,280 per year (mean $60,980), and about 80% earn between $42,960 and $82,950.
How much do surface mining machine operators and earth drillers make per hour?
Roughly $29 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $60,980 and 2,080 work hours per year.