How much does a mine machine operator make?
a year · about $28 an hour
A typical mine machine operator in the United States makes $57,430 a year, about $28 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They inspect their machine and check the digging plan, then use levers and pedals to scoop loose earth or rock and load it where needed. They follow signals and markers while working outdoors around loud, powerful equipment.
Did you know? The biggest dragline ever built had a 220-cubic-yard bucket; it could scoop, swing nearly 300 feet, dump, and start again in just 45 seconds.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $41,600 and $82,400How do you become one?
In the U.S., a high-school diploma or GED is usual; start as a trainee/helper or in a Dragline Operator apprenticeship, then learn the machine on the job with MSHA safety training. Most mine jobs are for people 18 or older.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and strong machine skills can help operators earn more, and extra training or credentials may matter. Pay also varies by employer, type of mining work, and location. Hours differ too: many work over 40 hours or have changing schedules.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Illinois ($80,600), lowest in Oklahoma ($47,100).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $41,600 | $57,430 | $82,400 | about 34,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $80,600 | about 1,000 |
| California | $74,500 | about 790 |
| Washington | $64,270 | about 640 |
| Nevada | $63,810 | about 730 |
| Indiana | $61,910 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes475022.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/47-5022.00
- www.msha.gov/safety-and-training
- www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture
- courses.ems.psu.edu/mng230/node/845
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY