How much does a mining helper make?
Answer: A typical mining helper in the United States makes $47,730 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 7,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Mining helper pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,960 | $47,730 | $68,020 | about 7,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $51,720 | about 1,000 |
| Texas | $40,650 | about 970 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, the tasks you learn, and the employer’s industry—such as mine-support work, coal mining, or construction. It also varies by location, since the same job can pay differently across states.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a mining helper do?
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area. Apprentice workers are classified with the appropriate skilled construction trade occupation (47-2011 through 47-2231).
What's a typical day like?
They watch equipment as extraction gets underway and bring tools or parts to help drillers and machine operators. After the work, they clear debris and prepare the area for the next job.
How to get this job
In the U.S., finish high school or earn a GED; related work experience is not typically required, and you learn on the job. Mine workers need safety training, and many jobs in or around mines are restricted to people 18 or older.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
A mining helper may collect and examine rocks with hand tools and testing devices—not just carry equipment and clean up.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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/oes/2023/may/oes475081.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-5081.00
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
- www.msha.gov/training-education/frequently-asked-questions/what-are-mshas-traini
- www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY