Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for underground mining machine operators, all others 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
- Alaska$109,610
- Montana$82,140
- Illinois$72,740
- Minnesota$71,670
- West Virginia$71,400
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Pennsylvania$59,140
- Utah$62,770
- Nevada$65,800
- Virginia$68,210
- West Virginia$71,400
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $109,610 | $106,840 | $53 | +56.9% | 70 |
| 2 | Montana | $82,140 | $84,410 | $39 | +17.6% | — |
| 3 | Illinois | $72,740 | $72,800 | $35 | +4.1% | 70 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $71,670 | $83,120 | $34 | +2.6% | 930 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $71,400 | $65,610 | $34 | +2.2% | 240 |
| 6 | Virginia | $68,210 | $61,990 | $33 | -2.4% | 50 |
| 7 | Nevada | $65,800 | $59,810 | $32 | -5.8% | — |
| 8 | Utah | $62,770 | $67,200 | $30 | -10.1% | 180 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $59,140 | $54,480 | $28 | -15.3% | 50 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 5 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $106,840 | $112,550 | 60 |
| 2 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $80,480 | $75,360 | 70 |
| 3 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $71,770 | $72,510 | 50 |
| 4 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $65,610 | $68,280 | 60 |
| 5 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $59,810 | $65,500 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing underground mining machine operators, all others (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metal Ore Mining | $80,140 | $71,350 | 1,560 |
| 2 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $73,870 | $70,950 | 2,450 |
| 3 | Coal Mining | $73,820 | $72,660 | 720 |
| 4 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $73,810 | $70,960 | 2,630 |
| 5 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $70,130 | $69,860 | 3,180 |
| 6 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $70,130 | $69,860 | 3,180 |
| 7 | Support Activities for Mining | $59,810 | $68,040 | — |
| 8 | Support Activities for Mining | $59,810 | $68,040 | — |
| 9 | Administrative and Support Services | $57,300 | $65,620 | — |
| 10 | Sector 56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $57,300 | $65,620 | — |
| 11 | Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $55,570 | $59,920 | 170 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do underground mining machine operators, all other make in the U.S.?
The median underground mining machine operators, all other salary in the United States is $70,130 per year (mean $69,860), and about 80% earn between $49,020 and $85,010.
How much do underground mining machine operators, all other make per hour?
Roughly $34 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $69,860 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays underground mining machine operators, all other the most?
Alaska has the highest average pay for underground mining machine operators, all other at $109,610 per year (median $106,840).
What is the job outlook for underground mining machine operators, all other?
Employment is projected to change -6.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 400 openings per year.