Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
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US Salary Overview
The national median wage for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the United States is $57,430 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Around 34,000 people are employed in this occupation nationally. UK data is not available for this occupation — the UK's SOC 2020 classification has no direct equivalent. Signing an offer? Employment contract templates at LawDepot cover offer letters, NDAs and employment agreements.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,600 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $47,890 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $57,430 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $65,730 | Experienced |
| 90th | $82,400 | Senior / highest decile |
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Start $1 Trial →Median Salary by State
| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $90,380 | $88,100 | 220 |
| Illinois | $80,600 | $73,360 | 1,000 |
| New Jersey | $80,310 | $88,110 | 740 |
| Wyoming | $78,230 | $75,290 | 420 |
| New Mexico | $76,350 | $67,590 | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 | $75,540 | 280 |
| Alaska | $74,680 | $75,720 | 140 |
| California | $74,500 | $85,520 | 790 |
| Montana | $65,850 | $66,850 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 | $68,460 | 280 |
| Washington | $64,270 | $71,140 | 640 |
| Nevada | $63,810 | $69,640 | 730 |
| Indiana | $61,910 | $65,710 | 2,000 |
| West Virginia | $61,330 | $62,500 | 650 |
| Oregon | $61,280 | $63,000 | 310 |
| Minnesota | $61,260 | $65,580 | 520 |
| Colorado | $61,020 | $67,370 | 820 |
| Arizona | $60,310 | $65,360 | 560 |
| Vermont | $59,790 | $56,900 | 250 |
| Rhode Island | $59,590 | $57,340 | 50 |
| Virginia | $59,480 | $60,280 | 1,000 |
| Iowa | $59,390 | $56,370 | 560 |
| Michigan | $59,040 | $58,710 | 880 |
| Idaho | $58,670 | $58,150 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $58,620 | $55,860 | — |
| New Hampshire | $58,540 | $61,160 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $58,370 | $55,830 | 300 |
| Wisconsin | $58,280 | $59,180 | 990 |
| Ohio | $58,240 | $63,300 | 1,000 |
| New York | $58,120 | $61,950 | 1,000 |
| Maryland | $57,610 | $57,420 | 730 |
| Missouri | $56,760 | $55,740 | 310 |
| Maine | $55,890 | $57,470 | 230 |
| Utah | $54,330 | $56,280 | 400 |
| Louisiana | $53,510 | $49,000 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $52,580 | $53,000 | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,350 | $53,930 | 2,000 |
| Florida | $51,990 | $53,840 | 1,000 |
| Georgia | $50,290 | $53,030 | 1,000 |
| Tennessee | $49,500 | $54,260 | 550 |
| Texas | $49,000 | $51,770 | 5,000 |
| Kansas | $48,950 | $51,140 | 270 |
| Mississippi | $48,490 | $48,150 | 290 |
| South Dakota | $48,250 | $50,850 | 280 |
| Kentucky | $47,780 | $52,300 | 790 |
| Alabama | $47,770 | $48,630 | 410 |
| Oklahoma | $47,100 | $49,420 | 1,000 |
| Delaware | $46,900 | $53,160 | 130 |
| Arkansas | $46,170 | $45,080 | 250 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,870 | $42,600 | 130 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the US?
The US national median wage for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining is $57,430 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
What is the pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the US?
Pay ranges from $41,600 at the 10th percentile to $82,400 at the 90th percentile. This difference typically reflects experience level, employer size, and location.
Which US states pay excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining the most?
The highest-paying states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining include North Dakota ($90,380), Illinois ($80,600), New Jersey ($80,310). Pay varies by state due to cost of living, local demand and industry concentration.
How much does excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary vary by state?
The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states is significant — North Dakota ($90,380) pays roughly 152% more than Puerto Rico ($35,870). Check the state breakdown above for the exact figure in your location.
Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · Page built 2026-09-02