How much does a mining helper make?
a year · about $23 an hour
A typical mining helper in the United States makes $47,730 a year, about $23 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
Did you know? A mining helper may collect and examine rocks with hand tools and testing devices—not just carry equipment and clean up.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,960 and $68,020How do you become one?
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.
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., 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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in West Virginia ($77,180), lowest in Mississippi ($36,160).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,960 | $47,730 | $68,020 | about 7,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $77,180 | about 360 |
| Kentucky | $68,020 | about 230 |
| Utah | $55,490 | — |
| Wyoming | $55,240 | about 110 |
| New York | $54,910 | about 210 |
Official definition: 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).
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